Covid-19: Novel Coronavirus Outbreak

A bivalent nanoparticle vaccine is rationally developed by conjugating capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14 with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Immunization with this vaccine induces potent protective immune responses against both SARS-CoV-2 variants and S. pneumoniae. This universal polysaccharide–protein-conjugated vaccine platform provides a new tool to fight against cocirculating viral and bacterial pathogens.

In severe COVID-19 patients, VIP plasma levels correlated with decreased inflammatory markers and survival. In in vitro assays with monocytes and lung epithelial cells, VIP and PACAP were found to decrease SARS-CoV-2 RNA synthesis (monocytes) and viral replication (lung epithelial cells). Both neuropeptides also reduced inflammatory factors and cell death of infected cells.

SARS-CoV-2 is continuously mutating and is regularly re-emerging. The recently emerged Omicron variant shows high rates of mutation at the spike protein and receptor binding domain regions. Because of these mutations, the Omicron variant has been noted to have the highest transmissibility among the previous SARS-CoV-2 variants including the Delta variant. Given Omicron's high genetic variability, it demonstrates immune escape mechanisms that potentially negate vaccine protection and causes re-infections. Therefore, variant-specific monoclonal antibodies, drugs, and vaccines are required to counter the pandemic.

The Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2) is an effective and well-tolerated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. However, rare adverse events have been reported. We report two cases of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-related interstitial lung disease.

Although it is a rare presentation, suspicion of COVID-19 infection in patients with acute pericarditis is crucial in the setting of pandemic irrespective of the absence of a typical clinical feature of COVID-19.

The olfactory disorder, Phantosmia, has been linked to COVID-19 patients of vascular pericytes (which express ACE-2) or immunologically vascular destruction in the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb.

Type A aortic dissection is a catastrophic event that requires prompt diagnosis and intervention to save the patient. It seems that type A aortic dissection in COVID-19 patients has increased severity, and even with immediate diagnosis, it has a high mortality.

Timely presentation is critical in breast and other cancer management, but disasters may hamper these processes. Particularly, disaster impacts on cancer care can be intensified when combined, which should be noted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is a case series study analysing humoral immune response and vaccination side effects after two doses of a BNT162b2 mRNA among healthcare workers in Mexico.

We comment on a previous article, describing the number needed to treat metric as a further marker on the impact of COVID-19 on treatment of malignant melanomas.

Student understanding of ecological concepts and pro-environmental perceptions were enhanced after a multiweek field study developed for an online ecology course. Improvements were highest in the group of students who visited their field sites most often.