News highlights on health security threats and countermeasures curated by Global Biodefense
This week’s selections include partial stopgap funding for PAHPA, advancing CRISPR-based phage therapy for resistant infections, a report from the GAO on public health preparedness, and a look at ‘smart market’ tech for epidemic and emerging disease surveillance in traditional food markets.
POLICY + GOVERNMENT
PAHPA Prospects Still Murky
The latest stopgap spending bill calls for extending certain provisions (through 8 Mar) of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. But prospects for a full pandemic preparedness reform package remain in limbo. Renewing PAHPA would give Congress an opportunity to apply the lessons from COVID-19 to the pandemic preparedness system, but disagreements over issues like how to address drug shortages, emergency powers of federal agencies regarding vaccinations, combined with rolling government funding deadlines, has made it difficult to envision what a final deal might look like. Axios Pro
Pandemic Agreement Marathon Ahead
The eighth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to Draft and Negotiate a WHO Convention, Agreement or Other International Instrument on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response will convene on Feb. 19 for a two-week marathon aimed at landing an accord consensus text and finalizing the World Health Assembly (WHA) report in May. But the journey remains fraught as debate continues on critical issues relating to equitable access to pandemic countermeasures, accountability, gender equity, and financing provisions. Pandemic Action Network
US-UK Strategic Dialogue on Biological Security
The U.S. National Security Council and the UK Cabinet Office announced a new Strategic Dialogue on Biological Security during a launch on 16 Jan. Underpinned by the UK Biological Security Strategy and the U.S. National Biodefense Strategy, this Strategic Dialogue reflects a shared ambition to bolster future heath and economic resilience against a growing and diverse spectrum of biological threats. The White House, Council on Strategic Risks
The Year of Replenishments
As the era of climate and pandemic threats escalates, so do the mounting demands for global health investment. Kicking off this month, World Bank President Ajay Banga is calling for the largest replenishment of the concessional financing arm — the International Development Association (IDA) — to support the world’s poorest countries. In June, France will host Gavi’s investment case launch, in support of its replenishment, to raise funds for immunization in LICs for the 2026 to 2030 period. In addition, efforts continue to build financial commitment for pandemic PPR through the Pandemic Fund, the Africa Epidemic Fund, WHO (via an anticipated historic $7 billion USD investment round), and the Global Fund’s investment case is due to land in 2024. Pandemic Action Network
Wisconsin Bill to Restrict Pathogen Studies Worries Scientists
A hearing this week in Wisconsin on a proposal to bar research that may make human pathogens more dangerous has scientists worried that such state bans would hamper a broad range of microbiology studies. Bills like Wisconsin’s could also conflict with or exceed new federal restrictions on so-called gain-of-function (GOF) research, due out any moment. The Wisconsin bill is still early in the legislative process, and its prospects are uncertain. But the hearing gave a platform to a small, vocal group of scientists who want to forbid certain GOF studies. Several hold the controversial view that such research is to blame for the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, Florida enacted the first state-level GOF ban. Its law uses the current, narrow federal definition of an ePPP, and analysts found it would have no impact because no such research is underway in Florida. Science
FDA Defends Plan to Increase Oversight of Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs)
The FDA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a joint statement reiterating mutual support of the FDA’s oversight of laboratory developed tests (LDTs), including the analytical and clinical validity of these tests, in the face of heavy opposition. LDTs help physicians make critical decisions about their patients’ care. According to the CDC, approximately 70% of health care decisions depend on laboratory test results. “Because of the important role of laboratory tests in health care decisions, it is essential to ensure these tests work. Both the FDA and the CMS believe patients and providers need to have confidence that laboratory tests work.” FDA
WHO Launches Appeal for US$ 1.5 Billion for Key Emergencies in 2024
The appeal covers the emergencies that demand the highest level of response from WHO, with the aim to reach over 87 million people. It is being issued in a context of complex emergencies cutting across crises of conflict, climate change and economic instability, which continue to fuel displacement, hunger, and inequality. World Health Organization
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES
BARDA Funds Next Stage of CRISPR-Based Bacteriophage Therapy
Locus Biosciences received a second trench of funding worth $23.9 million towards a Phase II study of its CRISPR-enhanced bacteriophage therapy, known as LBP-EC01, in patients with urinary tract infections caused by drug-resistant E. coli. The biotech’s contract with BARDA began in 2020 and is worth $85 million in total. Global Biodefense
Compatible Co-administration of BioThrax Vaccine and Ciprofloxacin —Results of a Randomized Drug-Vaccine Interaction Trial
The recommended treatment for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) following known/suspected exposure to Bacillus anthracis involves immunization with anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA, i.e., BioThrax vaccine) and a course of antimicrobial therapy. A drug-vaccine interaction clinical trial was conducted to determine whether this combined treatment might modify antimicrobial exposure or vaccine immunogenicity. When ciprofloxacin and AVA were concomitantly administered, there was no effect on either ciprofloxacin PK or AVA immunogenicity. Vaccine: X
A Stapled Lipopeptide Platform for Preventing and Treating Highly Pathogenic Viruses of Pandemic Potential
Because so many viral families rely on the six-helix bundle fusion mechanism to achieve host infection, the stapled lipopeptide platform demonstrated here could be harnessed to advance topical and systemically administered antivirals for a broad spectrum of respiratory and hemorrhagic fever viruses of pandemic potential, as demonstrated by the rapid development of lead stapled lipopeptide inhibitors of RSV, Ebola, and Nipah viruses. Nature Communications
Navigating the Complex Landscape of Ebola Infection Treatment: A Review of Emerging Pharmacological Approaches
This review offers detailed insight into the role of each viral protein in the replication cycle of the virus, as understanding how the virus interacts with host cells is critical to understanding how emerging therapeutics exert their activity. Using this knowledge, this review delves into the intricate mechanisms of action of current and emerging therapeutics. Infectious Diseases and Therapy
How Global Collaboration Can Improve the Medical Countermeasure Life Cycle for Infectious Disease Outbreaks: A BARDA Perspective
Without collaboration, the global community runs the risk of losing the capabilities built through years of investment and being underprepared to combat future threats. Of primary concern is a lack of a feasible regulatory path and clinical capability to achieve regulatory approval for new MCMs for many diseases; and the need for partners to support the life cycle activities following development—long-term sustainment of manufacturing capability and stockpiling of licensed products to support international outbreaks. The Journal of Infectious Diseases
Protocol to Measure Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccines in Hospital-Based HCW
Generic protocol for prospective multi-country cohort study from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Saliva could not be validated as an adequate sample for influenza testing due to the low number of influenza cases detected in symptomatic HCWs; therefore, this study will be repeated during the current 2023–24 season. Countries, hospitals or study sites can use this generic protocol to conduct similar studies. ECDC
Strengthening Warfighter Resiliency Using Broad-Spectrum or Host-Directed Therapies within the Rapid Acquisition and Investigation of Drugs for Repurposing Program
The Countering Emerging Threats – Rapid Acquisition and Investigation of Drugs for Repurposing (CET RAIDR) program within the Joint Program Manager for CBRN Medical is designed to rapidly tackle known, unknown, and emerging threats by utilizing late-stage or licensed therapeutics. The focus of the CET RAIDR effort is to bridge treatment gaps between threat identification and the implementation of licensed targeted MCMs, thereby strengthening warfighter resiliency. The repurposing approach conserves both time to market and funds by leveraging previous conventional development work as a launch point for repurposing efforts. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Cloned Rhesus Monkey Created to Speed Medical Research
Chinese researchers have cloned the first rhesus monkey, a species which is widely used in medical research because its physiology is similar to humans. They say they could speed up drug testing, as genetically identical animals give like-for-like results, providing greater certainty in trials. They say that the animal has remained healthy for more than two years, indicating the cloning process was successful. BBC, Nature Communications
Experimental Universal Swine Influenza A Virus (IAV) Vaccine Candidate
An experimental flu vaccine based on the conserved M2e epitope was produced and tested in pigs. Induction of humoral IgG M2e antibodies was observed. Vaccinated pigs were not protected upon challenge. The authors conclude a vaccine solely based on M2e alone may not be sufficient to induce protection in pigs. Vaccine
The Untapped Potential of Phage Model Systems as Therapeutic Agents
Over the past few years, many phages have been isolated from various environments to treat bacterial pathogens. While isolating novel phages for treatment has had some success for compassionate use, developing novel phages into a general therapeutic will require considerable time and financial resource investments. In the future, breeding model phages to infect pathogens could provide a new avenue to develop phage therapeutic agents. Virus Evolution
Tailor Made: The Art of Therapeutic mRNA Design
A key feature of mRNA medicines is their high degree of designability, although the design choices involved are complex. Maximizing the production of therapeutic proteins from mRNA medicines requires a thorough understanding of how nucleotide sequence, nucleotide modification and RNA structure interplay to affect translational efficiency and mRNA stability. This review describes the principles that underlie the physical stability and biological activity of mRNA and emphasize their relevance to the myriad considerations that factor into therapeutic mRNA design. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
BIOSECURITY + BIOPREPAREDNESS
Public Health Preparedness: HHS Emergency Agency Needs to Strengthen Workforce Planning
In February 2023, ASPR announced a new organizational structure to better achieve its mission. However, ASPR has not identified critical areas in the agency that need workforce assessments nor developed a plan to conduct them. It also has not conducted an agency-wide workforce assessment to prioritize the skills and competencies of greatest need to achieve the agency’s goals and mission. Without conducting these assessments, ASPR cannot be assured that its workforce has the skills and competencies in place to support its reorganization, and ultimately, to meet its mission of leading the nation’s response to public health emergencies.
In this report, GAO recommends ways for ASPR to address the problems and improve emergency response, such as: setting specific goals and performance measures for the in-house hiring office it’s establishing; Tailoring recruiting and hiring strategies to address a shortage of human capital staff; and planning and doing workforce assessments in critical areas and agency-wide. GAO
Preparing the Frontlines: Delivering Special Pathogen Training to Maryland Hospital Staff
Findings from this pilot program demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a 1-day combined didactic and skills training program focused on high-consequence pathogens. In addition to pathogen-specific training based on the Identify, Isolate, and Inform framework, skills training was provided in the proper use of personal protective equipment, spill cleanup, and removal of an incapacitated HCW from an isolation area. Health Security
In This Wave of Respiratory Illness, Primary Care is Drowning
Already bearing the burden of retirements, staffing shortages, and daily administrative demands, primary care is the front line of not just epidemics, but of healthcare itself. Because of that, the added stress of this influx of patients will push many practices to the breaking point. No amount of scheduling can add hours to the day, and our workload only becomes more burdensome as we and our office staffs become ill too. It has also impacted our ability to take care of patients who need care for their regular issues, to diagnose new and complex medical conditions, and to conduct routine annual physicals. The lack of trust in experts who really do know better about the effectiveness of vaccines is worsened by the ongoing opposition to masking. MedPage Today
Foreign Investments in U.S. Agricultural Land
Foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land grew to about 40 million acres in 2021, per USDA estimates. This can pose national security risks—such as when foreign interests buy land near U.S. military installations. USDA annually publishes data on agricultural land investments, which DOD, Treasury, and other agencies may review for risks. DOD noted that it needs more specific and timely data. USDA has requested funding to develop a real-time data system that can be accessed by other U.S. government agencies. GAO
Investigating the Potential Strategic Implications of COVID-19 for Biological Weapons Pursuit
COVID-19 demonstrated the power of pathogens to disrupt societies and cause large-scale economic harm; and revealed either the state’s own or its rivals’ vulnerability to diseases like COVID-19, as well as an inability to efficiently respond and contain such diseases. To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the strategic decision making of leaders with respect to biological weapons, this study employed a prospective simulation technique called Asynchronous Strategic Dynamics Red Teaming. The simulation revealed that most states are not likely to dramatically change their strategic posture regarding pursuit of offensive biological weapons. Health Security
SELECT AGENTS + PRIORITY PATHOGENS
Preparing for Another Ebola Outbreak: Impact of Viral Inactivation Methods on Commonly Measured Biochemistry Analytes
Infectious specimens containing viruses like Ebola require sample manipulation to ensure the safety of laboratory staff, which may negatively impact biochemistry test results. Here researchers evaluate the impact of viral inactivation methods on 25 biochemistry analytes in plasma, and seven biochemistry analytes in urine. Clinical Biochemistry
Anthrax Lethal Toxin and TNF-α Synergize to Induce Mouse Death
Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LT) is a determinant of lethal anthrax. Its function in myeloid cells is required for bacterial dissemination, and LT itself can directly trigger dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. By using a simplified but clinically relevant LT + TNF model, researchers here found unexpectedly that intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are key targeting cells responsible for LT-induced mouse death in the presence of TNF. Protein & Cell
Ratiometric Fluorescent and ECL Dual Modal Assay for Detection of an Anthrax Biomarker DPA
The sensitive detection of 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA), especially through visual point-of-care testing, is significant for accurate and rapid diagnosis of anthrax. A ratiometric fluorescent (R-FL) and electrochemiluminescent (ECL) dual-mode detection platform with a lanthanide ion-based metal-organic framework was developed, with Eu/Tb-TATAB nanoparticles constructed to identify DPA. Analytica Chimica Acta
AVIAN INFLUENZA
An Unprecedented Flu Strain is Attacking Hundreds of Animal Species. Humans Could Be Next.
The beaches of Valdes Peninsula in Argentina, normally so packed with elephant seals that time of year it is impossible to stroll along the shore, were desolate except for hundreds of dark, rotting carcasses — nearly a whole season of seal pups dead, with gulls pecking at the remains. “It is catastrophic. This is the largest die-off for the species, period.” Altogether, an estimated 17,000 elephant seal pups seals died there last year of a strain of avian influenza, victims of an unprecedented panzootic that has struck at least 320 types of birds and dozens of species of mammals. So far, cases of humans getting seriously sick from this strain of flu are rare. But the possibility of the quickly evolving influenza virus gaining the ability to be transmitted between from one mammal to another — and eventually, to humans — has scientists concerned. Washington Post
CHEMICAL + RADIOLOGICAL THREATS
IAEA Director General Update on Ukraine – 19 Jan
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) lost its immediate back-up power supply to the reactor units for several hours this week, in the latest incident underlining persistent nuclear safety and security risks at the site. Thursday’s failure of two of the ZNPP’s back-up power electrical transformers showed the continuing vulnerability in the availability of external power, which the plant needs to cool its six reactors and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions. IAEA
CHART: A Novel System for Detector Evaluation Against Toxic Chemical Aerosols
Concern over the possibility of deliberate dispersion of chemical warfare agents and highly toxic pharmaceutical based agents as persistent aerosols has raised the need for experimental assessment of current and future defensive capabilities of armed forces and law enforcement agencies. Here researchers present the Chemical Hot Aerosol Research Tool (CHART) as a validated and safe experimental set-up for performance evaluation of chemical detection and identification equipment against chemical warfare agents and other highly toxic compounds. Scientific Reports
SURVEILLANCE + DETECTION
Lessons Learned from NACCHO’s Wastewater Surveillance Mentorship Program
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), with support from the CDC, launched the Wastewater Surveillance Mentorship Program in 2022 to match local health departments (LHDs) with demonstrated experience in utilizing wastewater surveillance with LHDs seeking guidance, tools, and resources while in the early stages of developing a wastewater surveillance program. This report summarizes the background and activities of each participating health department of the 2023 Wastewater Surveillance Mentorship Program, as well as best practices for other LHDs interested in developing or expanding a wastewater surveillance program. NACCHO
Smart Markets: Harnessing New Technologies for Endemic and Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance in Traditional Food Markets
Despite decades of evidence linking markets to disease outbreaks across the world, there remains a striking lack of pathogen surveillance programs that can relay timely, cost-effective, and actionable information. This paper explores the concept of “smart” markets that utilize continuous surveillance systems to monitor the emergence of zoonotic pathogens with spillover potential. Journal of Virology
Key Challenges for Respiratory Virus Surveillance While Transitioning Out of Acute Phase of COVID-19 Pandemic
Many countries are moving toward an integrated model of surveillance for SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, and other respiratory pathogens. Although many surveillance approaches catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic provide novel epidemiologic insight, continuing them as implemented during the pandemic is unlikely to be feasible for nonemergency surveillance, and many have already been scaled back. This report highlights key challenges for the development of integrated models of surveillance, and discusses the relative strengths and limitations of different surveillance practices and studies as well as their contribution to epidemiologic assessment, forecasting, and public health decision-making. Emerging Infectious Diseases
Comparison of Performance and Economic Value of Two Biosurveillance Methods for Tracking Variants of Concern
The development of biosurveillance programs with strong analytical performance and economically accessible protocols is essential for monitoring viral pathogens. These results demonstrate how the value of simplistic and reliable molecular assays coupled with the core scientific principle of standardization can be overlooked by the charm of more sophisticated assays and instrumentation. This effect can often be amplified during tumultuous public health events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Microbiology Spectrum
ENVIRONMENTAL FLUX
Threat of Outbreak From Microbes Trapped in Permafrost for Millennia Raised by Increased Siberian Shipping Activity
It is not melting permafrost directly that poses the most immediate risk. The danger comes from another global warming impact: the disappearance of Arctic sea ice. That is allowing increases in shipping, traffic and industrial development in Siberia. Huge mining operations are being planned, and are going to drive vast holes into the deep permafrost to extract oil and ores. If you look at the history of epidemic outbreaks, one of the key drivers has been change in land use. Nipah virus was spread by fruit bats who were driven from their habitats by humans. Similarly, monkeypox has been linked to the spread of urbanisation in Africa. And that is what we are about to witness in the Arctic: a complete change in land use, and that could be dangerous, as we have seen elsewhere. The Guardian
Chimpanzees Are Dying From Our Colds — These Scientists are Trying to Save Them
For some non-human primate populations that live in protected areas, reverse zoonoses are an even bigger threat than habitat loss or poaching. This is the case for most, if not all, of the chimp communities in Kibale. In a group at Kanyawara, for example, respiratory pathogens such as human rhinovirus C and human metapneumovirus have been the leading chimp killers for more than 35 years, accounting for almost 59% of deaths from a known cause. Nature
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Yaws Could Soon Be Eradicated — 70 Years Behind Schedule
Researchers are cautiously optimistic that the neglected tropical disease could be gone by 2030, but new barriers — including antibiotic resistance and primate reservoirs — might stand in the way. Yaws is a skin disease caused by the corkscrew-shaped bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue, a close relative of other Treponema bacteria, including those that cause syphilis. A yaws infection begins with wart-like tumours on the skin that turn into ulcers. Bacteria from the ulcers can spread between people through direct skin contact and, although lesions might heal without treatment, the bacterium can then lie dormant in the body for years. If it re-emerges, it can cause painful inflammation and destruction of bone and surrounding tissue. Yaws mostly affects children in rural, low-income communities in tropical areas of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. Nature
‘Deadliest Outbreak Ever Seen’: Climate Crisis Fuels Bangladesh’s Worst Dengue Epidemic
In 2023, the total reported cases of dengue numbered 321,179, with 1,705 deaths recorded (of which at least 113 were children), a massive jump from the year before. It was the highest number of annual deaths caused by the mosquito-transmitted disease ever recorded in Bangladesh. The high death toll has continued into the new year. Dengue cases have risen dramatically around the world, with 70% of them occurring in Asia. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 3.9 billion people – or half of the world’s population – are at risk of infection. The Guardian
Human Disease Due to Mycobacterium bovis Linked to Free-Ranging Deer in Michigan
A unique enzootic focus of Mycobacterium bovis in free-ranging deer was identified in northern lower Michigan in 1994, with subsequent evidence of transmission to local cattle herds. Between 2002 and 2017 three Michigan deer hunters with M. bovis disease were previously reported. Here researchers present four additional human cases linked to the zoonotic focus in deer, utilizing genomic epidemiology to confirm close molecular associations among human, deer and cattle M. bovis isolates. Clinical Infectious Diseases
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE CRISIS
AMR Interventions 2024 – Call for Projects
The Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR) international call for projects to promote action to counteract the emergence and spread of bacterial and fungal resistance and to improve treatments will involve 21 funders from 19 countries. The total estimated budget is over 17,7 million Euro. JPIAMR
Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance Burden in Africa
Bacterial AMR forms a substantial burden for the current and future public health of the African continent. High-quality surveillance systems that generate representative, quality-assured AMR data are key to understanding that burden, detecting potential hospital outbreaks, and monitoring trends for the early warning of emerging or escalating AMR. Conventional surveillance is biased to better-resourced hospitals and urban settings. Research on wastewater surveillance of AMR as an alternative cost-effective, representative proxy for conventional AMR surveillance at the population level is underway. The Lancet Global Health
Provide Feedback: Antimicrobial Manufacturing Effluent Guidance
Antibiotics provide great value to humanity to prevent and treat infectious disease. However, environmental emission of antibiotics during manufacturing has potential to contribute to the emergence and spread of AMR. There is a need for international evidence-based guidance and tools on the management of manufacturing waste containing antimicrobials to guide the target audiences of this document. Public submitters can download the draft guidance and background documents below and provide comments in the online feedback form before 26 Jan 2024. WHO
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Using BCG Vaccination to Protect Against COVID-19: When Reality Fails to Meet Expectation
While anticipating the development of a COVID-19-specific vaccine, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) explored the potential of BCG vaccination to protect against COVID-19, based on trials demonstrating beneficial effects of BCG vaccination on unrelated infections and all-cause mortality in neonates in high-mortality geographical settings. Results are now available from 12 RCTs, which suggest that BCG vaccination is not an effective intervention against COVID-19. That the BCG–COVID-19 trials failed to meet expectation emphasizes the importance of rigorous clinical trials to validate hypotheses, even in urgent situations such as a pandemic. Nature Reviews Immunology
Simnotrelvir: Potent New Pill Provides COVID Relief for the Masses
There’s new hope for the average person seeking relief from COVID-19: a drug called simnotrelvir has been shown to speed recovery from mild to moderate disease by about 1.5 days. Simnotrelvir has been available in China under an emergency use authorization since early last year. It’s the most popular COVID-19 antiviral in the country and costs roughly one-quarter as much as Paxlovid. Nature
As COVID-19 Cases Surge, Here’s What to Know About JN.1, the Latest SARS-CoV-2 ‘Variant of Interest’
JN.1 has become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the US, status its parent variant never achieved. Fortunately, laboratory research and rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths suggest that the XBB.1.5 vaccine still protects against severe illness in the JN.1 era. “Our lab and others have shown that…JN.1 is about 3 to 5 times less susceptible to neutralizing antibodies than the XBB.1.5 variant that is in the updated booster. Most scientists are not very concerned about this reduced susceptibility because the titers of neutralizing antibodies remain in a range that is thought to be effective.” JAMA
In Search of a Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine: Next-Generation Vaccine Design and Immune Mechanisms
Highlights how first-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and natural history studies have greatly increased our understanding of effective antiviral immunity to coronaviruses and have informed next-generation vaccine design. Lays out the ideal properties of a pan-coronavirus vaccine and proposes a blueprint for the type of immunity that may offer cross-protection. Cellular & Molecular Immunology
Effectiveness of Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Against Hospitalization in Those Over 60 During Omicron XBB
The findings of this study suggest that the bivalent mRNA vaccines provided short-term additional protection against hospitalization among those aged ≥ 60 years during the XBB predominant period. The Omicron-descendent XBB lineage and XBB.1.5 sub-lineage became variants of interest in March 2023. Here researchers observed a decline in effectiveness, from 80% rVE in the first 89 days to 15% at 90–179 days, and no effect at 270–359 days. Eurosurveillance
Three Immunizations With Novavax’s Protein Vaccines Increase Antibody Breadth and Provide Durable Protection from SARS-CoV-2
Large-scale clinical trials are the ultimate test of vaccine efficacy but provide limited information on the immune mechanisms driving the efficacious responses. In this NHP study, a third immunization with an adjuvanted, low-dose recombinant protein vaccine significantly improved the quality of B cell responses, enhanced antibody breadth, and provided durable protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Characterization of B and T cell responses showed similar immune profiles elicited by mRNA and Novavax’s vaccine 4–6 months after the first immunization. This analysis comprehensively profiled B cell responses after each protein subunit immunization including early and late timepoints. NPJ Vaccines
California and Oregon Ease Covid Isolation Rules, Breaking With C.D.C.
Oregon and California, among the most cautious of states early in the pandemic, have surprised health officials elsewhere by breaking with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and telling infected workers and schoolchildren that as long as they have no symptoms, they are generally free to go about their lives. The new approach has been greeted with trepidation by some health experts in the United States, especially as wastewater data shows a surge in cases driven by a new variant. New York Times
HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS
Pattern of Bioterrorism in Ancient Times: Lessons to Be Learned from the Microbial and Toxicological Aspects
An evaluation of the literature related to the ancient history of bioterrorism reveals biological and toxicological agents were used as an instrument of legal execution, as a warfare tool in battles, or to eliminate political rivals across nations. Ancient people researched bioterrorism to apply it against enemies and at the same time provide countermeasures in favor of themselves and allies. Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift
Did the Black Death Shape the Human Genome? Study Challenges Bold Claim
The Black Death struck Cambridge, England, in 1349. The bodies piled up so fast — up to six in ten people died in Europe — that gravediggers struggled to keep up, and many remains wound up in mass burials. Despite its heavy toll, this wave of bubonic plague doesn’t seem to have had a lasting impact on the genomes of the people of Cambridge, suggests a 17 January study in Science Advances. The findings contradict a high-profile 2022 Nature paper that identified variants in immune genes that were enriched in people who survived the Black Death, suggesting that the variants might have had a protective effect. Nature
SPECIAL INTEREST
Júlia Carries a Mobile App in Her Pocket to Protect Her Community from Deadly Disease
Júlia is one of 8,500 community health workers in Mozambique. On average, Júlia visits 25 to 30 families per month – trekking hundreds of kilometers and tracking hundreds of patients. Not so long ago, she carried a massive binder filled with hundreds of loose-leaf pages to deliver information and track patient information. Then came upSCALE: a smartphone app that has transformed Júlia’s work – and offers a wealth of digital health data to strengthen Mozambique’s health systems. The Global Fund
ALSO READING
RespiCast: the new European Respiratory Diseases Forecasting Hub. ECDC
SARS-CoV-2 immunity in animal models. Cellular & Molecular Immunology
Hidden viral proteins: How powerful are they? PLOS Pathogens
Phylogenomic early warning signals for SARS-CoV-2 epidemic waves. eBioMedicine
The effects of select training modalities on vaccine cold chain management. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice
Mannose-specific plant and microbial lectins as antiviral agents: A review. Glycoconjugate Journal
Multivalent Epigraph Hemagglutinin Vaccine Protects against Influenza B Virus in Mice. Pathogens