News highlights on health security threats and countermeasures curated by Global Biodefense
This week’s selections include H5N1 vaccines for humans; plants taking up prions from soil; rapid detection of high consequence pathogens in swine; and the launch of the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science.
POLICY + GOVERNMENT
New Biosecurity Group Aims to Prevent Biotech Disasters
Biosecurity experts launched a new international nonprofit designed to prevent modern biotechnology from causing harm. Known as the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS), the group aims to develop technological and policy guardrails to reduce the risk that biotech tools, such as the ability to synthesize and edit DNA, are accidentally or deliberately used to create deadly toxins and pathogens. Science
Proposed Pandemic Agreement Must Ensure COVID-19 Vaccine Nationalism is Never Repeated
The Pandemic Agreement could be the last chance to fix this problem before the next COVID-19 arrives. Yet the proposed solution — the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, which was outlined in Article 12 of the latest treaty draft — still hangs in the balance. The second-to-last session of the treaty’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Body is now under way. Nature
Private-Sector Research Could Pose A Pandemic Risk. Here’s What to Do About It
Observers have long seen the need for broadening the reach of US government policies that subject enhanced potential pandemic pathogens research to extra scrutiny; the risks that such research might pose do not disappear merely because no government funds are involved. Indeed, the US policy that currently creates an oversight framework for government-funded activity in this area explicitly sets out a marker that it be revised in some future version to cover “all relevant research activities, regardless of the funding source.” But doing so is not straightforward. From new laws to incentives for voluntarily following government policies, there are a range of possibilities for achieving this goal. As the amount of privately funded activity in the US bioeconomy increases, doing so will only become more important. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework: 18-month Progress Report
The PIP Framework is a World Health Assembly resolution adopted unanimously by all Member States in 2011. The Framework includes a benefit-sharing mechanism called the Partnership Contribution (PC). The PC is collected as an annual cash contribution from influenza vaccine, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical manufacturers that use the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). This report presents overall success metrics and infographics to illustrate progress in PIP Framework implementation. World Health Organization
Can Disarmament Treaties Respond to Scientific and Technological Developments?
Even without any conscious policy to violate or undermine disarmament, product and process innovation may challenge the long-term viability of any international disarmament agreement. The author explores complex relationships between disarmament and S&T concerning chemical and biological weapons. Essentials of Biological Security
Lawmaker Raises New Flap Over U.S.-Funded Virology Research That Critics Call Risky
“USDA’s funding is only being committed to the specific components carried out by our own team located in Athens, Georgia, and is not in any way contributing to research taking place in the U.K. or China.” What is more, the spokesperson added, “what Senator Ernst lays out in her letter is far off base from what’s actually transpiring, and on top of that is based on approval decisions that predate this Administration.” If the senator has concerns about USDA research, the spokesperson advised, “she should reach out to us directly before putting misinformation in a press release or public letter.” Science
US Rivalry with China Expands to Biotech. Lawmakers See a Failure to Compete and Want to Act
U.S. lawmakers are raising alarms about what they see as America’s failure to compete with China in biotechnology, warning of the risks to U.S. national security and commercial interests. But as the two countries’ rivalry expands into the biotech industry, some say that shutting out Chinese companies would only hurt the U.S. Bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to bar “foreign adversary biotech companies of concern” from doing business with federally funded medical providers. In a letter to senators sponsoring the bill, Rachel King, chief executive officer of the trade association Biotechnology Innovation Organization, said the legislation would “do untold damage to the drug development supply chain both for treatments currently approved and on market as well as for development pipelines decades in the making.” AP
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES
EMA Recommends Approval of Two H5N1 Vaccines for Humans
EMA’s Human Medicines Committee (CHMP) on 22 Feb adopted positive opinions for two vaccines intended for active immunization against the H5N1 subtype of influenza A virus (avian influenza). One of them, Celldemic, is intended for immunization during outbreaks of influenza coming from animals, including when public health authorities anticipate a possible pandemic. The other, Incellipan, is a pandemic preparedness vaccine intended for use only if a flu pandemic has been officially declared. In the event of a pandemic, once the virus strain causing the pandemic is identified, the manufacturer can include this strain in the authorized pandemic preparedness vaccine and apply for the vaccine to be authorized as a ‘final’ pandemic vaccine. Because the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine has already been assessed with other potential pandemic strains, the authorization of the final pandemic vaccine can be accelerated. European Medicines Agency
Mosaic Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Single Nanoparticle Characterization
To reach the ultimate goal of a universal vaccine for seasonal influenza, a mosaic influenza nanoparticle vaccine (FluMos-v1) was developed. Study demonstrates by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and supportive physical–chemical methods that the co-display of four antigens is indeed achieved in single nanoparticles. The integrated imaging and physicochemical methods developed for single nanoparticle multivalency will serve to further understand immunogenicity data from the current FluMos-v1 clinical trial. Scientific Reports
Lassa Fever Vaccine Use Cases and Demand: Perspectives from Select West African Experts
A Lassa fever vaccine is a recognized public health priority, with several candidates entering clinical trials. However, the perspectives of regional experts regarding critical vaccine properties, ideal delivery methods, and priority target populations remain unclear. Interviewed expert stakeholders strongly favored the use of a mass, proactive campaign strategy to immunize a wide age range of people in high-risk areas, including pregnant women and health care workers. Vaccine
Radiation and Chemical Program Research for Multi-Utility and Repurposed Countermeasures
This paper explores common injury mechanisms underlying actions of chemical and radiological agents in a threat-agnostic manner, and identifies potential areas for collaboration geared toward enhancing preparedness and response against radiological and chemical threats. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Efficacy of a Combined Anti-Seizure Treatment Against Cholinergic Established Status Epilepticus Following a Sarin Nerve Agent Insult
The development of refractory status epilepticus following sarin intoxication presents a therapeutic challenge. This study evaluated the efficacy of dual or triple treatment with levetiracetam in comparison to the gold standard treatment with midazolam and the most effective triple treatment with VPA for reducing ESA, preventing recurrent seizures, decreasing convulsions and biochemical and histopathological brain damage and lessening abnormal behavioral changes following sarin exposure. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
Ionizing Radiation Exposure and Treatment with a Medical Countermeasure, Ex-Rad
Paper outlines miRNA profile of a small molecule medical countermeasure Ex-Rad (ON01210) in a macaque model. Ex-Rad treatment restored the level of several miRNAs whose expression was significantly changed after radiation exposure, including miR-16-2, an miRNA previously associated with radiation survival. Findings support the use of miRNA expression as an indicator of radiation exposure and the use of Ex-Rad as a potential radioprotectant. Scientific Reports
Smallpox Lesion Characterization in Placebo-Treated and Tecovirimat-Treated NHP
Using archived tissue from a study conducted at the CDC, researchers characterized pathology in 18 cynomolgus macaques intravenously infected with the Harper strain of variola virus. Six macaques were placebo-treated controls, six were tecovirimat-treated beginning at 2 days post-infection, and six were tecovirimat-treated beginning at 4 days post-infection. Findings further characterize variola lesions in the macaque model and describe new molecular methods for variola detection. PLOS Pathogens
BIOSECURITY + BIOPREPAREDNESS
Synthetic Pandemics: Emerging Technology and Risk Analysis
In considering the potential for a synthetic pandemic, researchers assessed whether a pathogen could be developed applying engineering principles to biology that would be capable of sustained, human-to-human transmission and causing mortality and morbidity. And, if so, how would such an engineered pandemic compare with a naturally occurring spillover event? RAND
Biotechnology and the Return of Biological Warfare
DNA synthesis companies, laboratories ordering custom-made DNAs, non-profit organisations, and governments internationally need to come together to establish a more affordable mechanism that makes it mandatory for DNA suppliers to screen their sequences against known or dangerous pathogens before dispatching them. An appropriate authority should also be established at the national level for DNA suppliers to report any suspicious orders. Additionally, this authority should also create a mechanism to enforce stringent background checks to ensure the legitimacy of customers ordering DNA. Future Warfare and Critical Technologies
DNA Bought Online Could Be Used to Create Dangerous Pathogens, Experts Warn
“At the moment, it would be relatively easy for a malicious actor to go and find a provider that isn’t screening,” said Dr Piers Millett, the executive director of the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS), a new project dedicated to strengthening biosecurity. IBBIS was launched this month by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a NGO committed to reducing nuclear and biological threats, at the Munich Security Conference. The Telegraph
Epidemic-EM.org: Online Resource to Strengthen Use of Emergency Operations Centers for Epidemic Response
Resources developed for self-directed Emergency Operations Center capacity strengthening, to encompass current best practices, and to emphasize how public health emergency management concepts can support epidemic response activities. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Colorado Springs Hospitals and FBI Work on Emergency Preparedness with Bioterrorism Exercise
During the event, hospital staff had patients come in suffering from symptoms that would often be misdiagnosed like difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, double vision, difficulty breathing, slurred speech, and more. “There is no exercise I have ever been to that goes one hundred percent perfect, so we learn from each scenario things that we can do better,” said Special Agent David Autrey with the FBI. “And this is why the FBI is here today, is to see how we can partner and see what other kinds of things we can bring to the table to help the hospitals prepare for this type of event.” KOAA News Southern Colorado
King’s Expert Leads Advisory Group Set Up to Enhance Global Health Security
Dr. Filippa Lentzos, an expert in Science and International Security in the Department of War Studies at King’s, will lead the WHO’s new Technical Advisory Group on the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences and Dual-Use Research (TAG-RULS DUR). The group will advise the WHO on safety hazards and security threats arising from breakthroughs in the life sciences and research that can be applied for both beneficial and harmful purposes. King’s College London
SELECT AGENTS + PRIORITY PATHOGENS
Plants Can Take Up CWD-Causing Prions from Soil in the Lab. What Happens if They are Eaten?
While researchers have been experimenting with protein uptake into plants since the 1970s, a study published in iScience takes those investigations a step further. They demonstrated that alfalfa, barley, and Arabidopsis thaliana, a small plant from the mustard family called thale cress and other names, all accumulated sufficient prions from contaminated soil in their above-ground tissues to cause mice that ingested the plant tissues to develop prion disease. CIDRAP
Chimeric Viruses Containing Select Agents: The Biology Behind Their Creation, Attenuation, and Exclusion From Regulation
The CDC has the ability to regulate which pathogens are on the Federal Select Agents and Toxins List, and to exclude pathogens that are sufficiently attenuated. Since 2003, the CDC has excluded over 20 chimeric viruses that contain portions of select agents. But in late 2021, the CDC proposed a regulatory first—the addition of a chimeric virus to the Select Agents And Toxins List. To better understand the importance and applicability of this action, the authors surveyed the landscape of previous exclusions from select agent regulation. Health Security
WHO Reports 4 More MERS Cases from Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has reported four more MERS-CoV cases, two of which were fatal, in people whose symptoms began in the latter months of 2023. All had underlying health conditions, and none were health workers. There was no epidemiological link between the patients. CIDRAP
Long Neglected, Lassa Fever is Surging in West Africa. Researchers Want to Know Why
Lassa fever is clearly on the rise—and on the move: In the past few years, some states in northern Nigeria have reported cases for the first time. Mali, Togo, and Benin have all reported their first cases in the past decade. If the virus hasn’t changed, what has? “Basically we don’t know fully,” says Danny Asogun, a public health physician at ISTH. Perhaps an increase in the number of rodents or the levels of virus they carry plays a role. Population growth, migration, crowding, and encroachment on wild lands are bringing people into closer contact with rodents, Asogun says. And new hosts, especially the Guinea multimammate mouse M. erythroleucus, could be contributing. Science
Management of Unexpected Laboratory Exposure to Burkholderia Pseudomallei
This article shows the importance of having solid MALDI-TOF MS databases to ensure precise microbial identification and thus guide the choice of antibiotic prophylaxis adapted to exposed individuals. Annales de Biologie Clinique
Orthopox Viruses: Is the Threat Growing?
Since the eradication of smallpox and the cessation of the related vaccination campaigns, the threat has been growing, as evidenced by the currently ongoing worldwide mpox outbreak. Reconstruction of smallpox is a distinct possibility, as are other scenarios whereby other orthopox viruses may be made more fit for transmission in humans. Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Madariaga and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Infections
Analysis of all the available clinical and epidemiological data of MADV and VEEV infections recorded since 1961 in Panama, a total of 168 human alphavirus encephalitis cases. Research describes the clinical signs and symptoms and epidemiological characteristics of these cases, and also explored signs and symptoms as potential predictors of encephalitic alphavirus infection when compared to those of other arbovirus infections occurring in the region. medRxiv
AVIAN INFLUENZA
Cambodia Reports Another Human H5N1 Avian Flu Case as Hong Kong Notes H9 Infection
Cambodia’s health ministry has reported another human infection from H5N1 avian influenza, in a 17-year-old girl from Kampot province. Cambodia has now reported 5 cases for 2024 and a total of 11 since February 2023. CIDRAP
Transboundary Determinants of Avian Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Through the creation of a threat reduction network for avian diseases (Avian Zoonotic Disease Network, AZDN) in three countries (Georgia, Ukraine, and Jordan), this project is strengthening capacities for disease diagnostics; microbiomes; ecoimmunology; field biosafety; proper wildlife capture and handling; experimental design; statistical analysis; and vector sampling and biology. Paper covers what is required to build a wild bird infectious disease research and surveillance program, which includes learning skills in proper bird capture and handling; biosafety and biosecurity; permits; next generation sequencing; leading-edge bioinformatics and statistical analyses; and vector and environmental sampling. Frontiers in Microbiology
USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Backyard Non-Poultry Flock in West Virginia
On 20 Feb, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Kanawha County, West Virginia. This is the first case of HPAI in domestic birds in West Virginia during this outbreak, which began in February 2022. USDA
CHEMICAL + RADIOLOGICAL THREATS
IAEA Update on Situation in Ukraine
Powerful explosions shook windows at the site of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) this week. IAEA experts stationed at the ZNPP reported hearing explosions every day over the past week, including one late last Friday that appeared to occur close to the plant itself. The ZNPP separately informed the IAEA team that a mine exploded outside the site perimeter earlier yesterday, without causing damage or injury. “I remain deeply concerned about the nuclear safety and security situation at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, located on the frontline of the war. The reports of our experts indicate possible combat action not far away from the site.” In another indication of persistent nuclear safety and security risks facing the ZNPP, the site remains without back-up power, three days after the connection to its last 330 kilovolt (kV) line was cut due to a problem that occurred on the other side of the Dnipro river. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
OPCW Identifies ISIL as Perpetrators of 2015 Chemical Attack in Marea, Syria
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Investigation and Identification Team (IIT)’s fourth report concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that units of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) were the perpetrators of the sulfur mustard chemical weapons attack on 1 September 2015 in Marea, Syria. The chemical payload was deployed by artillery from areas under ISIL control. The IIT’s comprehensive investigation was conducted from January 2023 to February 2024. OPCW
Pralidoxime is No Longer Fit for Purpose as an Antidote to Organophosphate Poisoning
Pralidoxime is the only oxime antidote to organophosphate poisoning stocked in the United Kingdom. Typically, it is used alongside atropine, to reverse the effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibition. However, its efficacy has been questioned by recent meta-analyses of use treating attempted suicides in less economically developed countries, where organophosphate poisoning is more common. This policy analysis assesses the likely efficacy of pralidoxime in the UK, in scenarios largely different from those evaluated in meta-analyses. In all scenarios, the UK delay in antidote administration poses a major problem, as pralidoxime acts in a time-critical reactivation mechanism before “ageing” of acetylcholinesterase occurs. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Peelable Gel for Neutralization and Skin Decontamination Toward Chemical Warfare Agents
In this study, an easy to handle peelable gel, incorporating CeO2 nanoparticles, has been developed for skin decontamination against toxic chemicals. The challenge remains to entrap the particles in an adapted matrix to limit their diffusion in the immediate environment, while preserving the bare particles decontamination efficacy. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
Comprehensive Review of Organophosphate Poisoning Complications
This review thoroughly explores the biochemical basis, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, treatment strategies, and long-term effects of organophosphate exposure. Familiar sources include insecticides (malathion, parathion), nerve gases (sarin, VX), ophthalmic agents (echothiophate, isoflurophate), antihelmintics (trichlorfon), herbicides (tribufos, merphos), industrial chemicals (tricresyl phosphate), and contaminated food sources. The acute phase is characterized by cholinergic crisis, respiratory distress, and neurological manifestations, while delayed complications include the intermediate syndrome and organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy. Cureus
Cutaneous Radiation Injuries: REAC/TS Clinical Experience
This paper reviews selected cases from the REAC/TS experience in order to illustrate cutaneous patterns of injury and treatment options. When reviewing 44 years of radiation incidents, a pattern was noted that when the whole-body dose was 6 Gy or more, significant Cutaneous Radiation Injuries (CRI) were present in approximately one-third of cases. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
SURVEILLANCE + DETECTION
FSIS Posts FY 2023 Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations Summary Report
A summary of outbreaks investigated during FY 2023 is now available on the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) website. This report summarizes outbreaks investigated by FSIS during FY 2023 (involving more than 100 illnesses and 30 hospitalizations) and includes information on pathogens, implicated sources, illnesses, and lessons learned from outbreak investigation after-action reviews. USDA
Catalytic Grant Fund for Pathogen Genomics
WHO announced on 23 Feb US$ 4 million in funding from donors to create a catalytic grant fund for organizations working in pathogen genomic surveillance. The fund will support projects across the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to pilot projects and in doing so, create an evidence base for how to quickly scale-up pathogen genomic surveillance. World Health Organization
Usefulness of Receptor Binding Domain Protein-Based Serodiagnosis of COVID-19
This study evaluated the performance of RBD enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (RBD-ELISAs) for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies. The RBD protein’s immunogenicity and specificity make it a valuable tool for serodiagnosis, offering an alternative to PCR methods, particularly in resource-limited settings. IJID Regions
Emerging Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Pathogen Genomics
As AI technologies have matured and expanded, pathogen genomics has also contended with exponentially larger datasets. Authors examine factors affecting the adoption of AI into routine laboratory and public health practice and the need for a renewed vision for the potential of AI to assist pathogen genomics practice. Frontiers in Bacteriology
Rapid Detection of High Consequence and Emerging Viral Pathogens in Pigs
To prevent outbreaks, the regulatory agencies currently conduct veterinary surveillance testing (typically with PCR or ELISA) for a few high-consequence animal diseases, including African swine fever virus (ASFV), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), pseudorabies virus (PRV), foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), and influenza A virus (IAV-S). Such viruses can rapidly change their antigens, virulence, and ability to replicate in host species through genetic shift. As a result, such viruses are able to go undetected in assays that utilize specific regions for detection. With the emergence of novel pathogens, an alternative set of surveillance tools and methods is needed that can simultaneously monitor known and unknown pathogens. Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Turning Sequencing Into Surveillance
One of the key decisions to be made when building genomic surveillance and epidemiology capacity is what samples should be sequenced. It’s important to bring all the stakeholders together because the needs of different groups can lead to very different conclusions on what samples should be sequenced. More samples is often helpful, but a scattershot approach of just increasing volume with no regard to representativeness or intended purpose of the data is often counterproductive, giving impressive numbers and terabytes of data, but little actual value for driving public health policy and decision making. Applied and Genomic Epidemiology in Public Health
Cost-Effective Genomic Surveillance of Malaria with Targeted Nanopore Sequencing
Genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria can provide policy-relevant information about antimalarial drug resistance, diagnostic test failure, and the evolution of vaccine targets. Yet the large and low complexity genome of P. falciparum complicates the development of genomic methods, while resource constraints in malaria endemic regions can limit their deployment. Here, we demonstrate an approach for targeted nanopore sequencing of P. falciparum from dried blood spots (DBS) that enables cost-effective genomic surveillance of malaria in low-resource settings. Nature Communications
ONE HEALTH
Pathogen Pathway to the Next Pandemic
Climate change, deforestation, alterations in land use, agricultural expansion, livestock farming, mining activities, biodiversity loss, urbanisation, oil and gas extraction, and large-scale infrastructure developments, such as road and dam construction in the Amazon rainforest, have all been associated with the rise and spread of infectious diseases. These include dengue, yellow fever, malaria, Zika virus, Chikungunya fever, Candida auris, leishmaniasis, Oropouche virus, hantavirus, and numerous others, with the possibility of also introducing novel pathogens. The Ecologist
Molecular Epidemiology of Underreported Emerging Zoonotic Pathogen Streptococcus suis in Europe
Streptococcus suis, a zoonotic bacterial pathogen circulated through swine, can cause severe infections in humans (most commonly meningitis and sepsis). Human S. suis infections occur both through direct contact with infected pigs and consumption of undercooked contaminated pork. Because human S. suis infections are not notifiable in most countries, incidence is underestimated. Emerging Infectious Diseases
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Florida’s School Measles Cluster Grows; Ohio and Washington Report Cases
Three more measles cases have been reported at an elementary school in Broward County, Florida, raising the total to six. An additional case in the area has been identified in a child under age 5. Health officials in Ohio’s Miami County have also reported a measles case this week, marking the state’s second of the year. Spokane County, Washington, reported an infection in a local resident who was likely exposed outside the country and likely contagious when traveling through the airport. CIDRAP, NBC News
Florida Surgeon General Defies Science Amid Measles Outbreak
As a Florida elementary school tries to contain a growing measles outbreak, the state’s top health official is giving advice that runs counter to science and may leave unvaccinated children at risk of contracting a highly contagious pathogen. Instead of following what he acknowledged was the “normal” recommendation that parents keep unvaccinated children home for up to 21 days — the incubation period for measles — Ladapo said the state health department “is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance.” Washington Post, STAT
Indiana Reports First Measles Case in 5 Years
About one in five unvaccinated people in the United States who get measles is hospitalized, and 90 percent of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become sick,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver. “This case is a good reminder that you are at risk if you haven’t been vaccinated.” Indiana Department of Health
Two Measles Cases Confirmed in Greater New Orleans Area
On Feb. 24 the LDH reported that two individuals were diagnosed with measles in the Greater New Orleans Area after having recently returned from a trip out of state. Louisiana Department of Health
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Importance of Using WHO International Standards to Harmonize SARS-CoV-2 Serological Assays
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and over 220 commercial COVID-19 serological assays developed for laboratory use, the need to harmonize and compare data between studies is immediate and pertinent. Ideally, all SARS-CoV-2 serological data would be calibrated against the International Standard, with vaccine developers reporting clinical trial antibody data in IU or BAU. For optimal adoption of the use of standards, medical journals should require the reporting of results in IU and BAU for publication. The Lancet Microbe
WA Health Officials Throw Away Millions of Pandemic Supplies
Short on masks as they faced a surge in COVID-19 patients, Seattle hospital workers once resorted to rigging their own face shields out of vinyl and tape acquired at Home Depot. Now, less than four years later, Washington has trashed more than 14 million gowns, 5 million surgical masks and 140,000 face shields. Washington is not alone in tossing its painstakingly acquired surplus – at least 15 states have dumped pandemic stockpiles. Crosscut
Durable Cross-Protective Neutralizing Antibody Responses Elicited By Lipid Nanoparticle-Formulated SARS-Cov-2 mRNA Vaccines
The advantages of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), including versatile design, scalability, and reproducibility, make them ideal candidates for developing next-generation mRNA vaccines against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. This study developed and tested mRNA-LNP vaccines (PVX1010, PVX1020, PVX1040, and PVX1050) targeting SARS-CoV-2 variants, and evaluated their vaccination efficacy and safety in a mouse model. NPJ Vaccines
Integrating AI-based Epitope Prediction in a SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Discovery Pipeline: Caution is Warranted
SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies (nABs) showed great promise in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergence of resistant strains, however, quickly rendered the majority of clinically approved nABs ineffective. Here researchers conducted a neutralizing antibodies (nAB) discovery program, integrating AI-based prediction to select non-competing nABs very early in the pipeline. Despite the promising results, in depth cryo-EM structural analysis demonstrated that the AI-based prediction employed with the intention to ensure non-overlapping epitopes was inaccurate. eBioMedicine
Prevalence of Persistent SARS-CoV-2 in a Large Community Surveillance Study
Here, using viral sequence data collected as part of a national infection survey, researchers identified 381 individuals with SARS-CoV-2 RNA at high titre persisting for at least 30 days, of which 54 had viral RNA persisting at least 60 days. They refer to these as ‘persistent infections’ as available evidence suggests that they represent ongoing viral replication, although the persistence of non-replicating RNA cannot be ruled out in all. The authors estimate that 0.1–0.5% of infections may become persistent with typically rebounding high viral loads and last for at least 60 days. Nature
COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical (VaST) Work Group
This report provides an overview of the organization and activities of VaST, summarizes data reviewed as part of the comprehensive effort to monitor vaccine safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlights selected actions taken by CDC, ACIP, and FDA in response to accumulating post-authorization safety data. Vaccine
ALSO READING
Alert from Inner Mongolia: two bubonic plague cases reported in China. International Journal of Surgery Global Health
The mRNA vaccine, a swift warhead against a moving infectious disease target. Expert Review of Vaccines
Case 47 Emergent BioSolutions. Rising Stars
Validation of the VirCapSeq-VERT system for differential diagnosis, detection, and surveillance of viral infections. Journal of Clinical Microbiology
A novel synthetic nucleic acid mixture for quantification of microbes by mNGS. Microbial Genomics
Effect of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on Pneumonia Incidence Rates among Children. Emerging Infectious Diseases
Single dose, dual antigen RNA vaccines protect against lethal Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus infection in mice. eBioMedicine
A selective chromo-fluorogenic chemosensor for visual detection of solution and vapor phase of sarin. Journal of Molecular Structure