Lassa fever research priorities: towards effective medical countermeasures by the end of the decade.

In 2016, WHO designated Lassa fever a priority disease for epidemic preparedness as part of the WHO Blueprint for Action to Prevent Epidemics. One aspect of preparedness is to promote development of effective medical countermeasures (ie, diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines) against Lassa fever. Diagnostic testing for Lassa fever has important limitations and key advancements are needed to ensure rapid and accurate diagnosis.

Measures to prevent and treat Nipah virus disease: research priorities for 2024-29.

Nipah virus causes highly lethal disease, with case-fatality rates ranging from 40% to 100% in recognised outbreaks. No treatments or licensed vaccines are currently available for the prevention and control of Nipah virus infection. In 2019, WHO published an advanced draft of a research and development roadmap for accelerating development of medical countermeasures, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, to enable effective and timely emergency response to Nipah virus outbreaks.

Viral Load Dynamics in Plasma and Semen When Antiretroviral Therapy Is Initiated During Early HIV-1 Infection.

We assessed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) load in plasma and semen during primary HIV infection using serial samples of semen and plasma during the first 24 weeks after diagnosis in untreated participants and those who started antiretroviral therapy (ART) immediately at diagnosis. In the absence of treatment, semen viral load was >1000 copies/mL in almost all specimens (83%) collected 2-10 weeks after the estimated date of HIV acquisition and remained >1000 copies/mL in 35% of untreated participants at the last observed time point. Thus, in the absence of ART, semen viral load remained at a level consistent with transmissibility throughout primary infection.

Protocol for evaluating mechanistic pathways associated with HIV acquisition via nested Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selective Operator analysis.

Statistical analysis to evaluate mechanistic pathways can be limited by non-causal associations as well as co-linearity of high-dimensional data. Here, we present a protocol evaluating statistical associations between multiple exposure variables (sociodemographic and behavioral), immune biomarkers, and HIV acquisition. We describe steps for study setup, combining Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selective Operator with the standard regression approach, and building nested models.

Sex-disaggregated effectiveness data reporting in COVID-19 vaccine research: a systematic review.

Background: Sex and gender are believed to influence vaccine response. Yet, the relationship between sex and gender and COVID-19 vaccine efficacy is poorly understood and remains under-investigated.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to determine whether and to what extent post-approval COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies report sex-disaggregated VE data.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Population-Based Study of Minnesota Residents.

COVID-19 continues to be a public health concern in the United States. Although safe and effective vaccines have been developed, a significant proportion of the US population has not received a COVID-19 vaccine. This cross-sectional study aimed to describe the demographics and behaviors of Minnesota adults who have not received the primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine, or the booster shot using data from the Minnesota COVID-19 Antibody Study (MCAS) collected through a population-based sample between September and December 2021.

Finding and treating early-stage HIV infections: A cost-effectiveness analysis of the study in Lima, Peru.

Background: , a treatment-as-prevention intervention among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Lima, Peru, was developed to identify HIV during early primary infection (<3 months from acquisition) through monthly serologic assays and HIV RNA tests. Newly diagnosed individuals were rapidly linked to care and offered to initiate ART. In this study we sought to study the cost-effectiveness of compared to the standard of care (SOC) for HIV testing and initiation of treatment.

COVID-19 vaccine confidence and reasons for vaccination among health care workers and household members.

Background: The majority of healthcare workers (HCW) in the US report being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, yet little is known about vaccine decision-making for their household members, including children.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey July-August 2021 of HCW and their household members in Minnesota.

Results: 94 % of eligible participants were vaccinated with the most common reasons being wanting to protect oneself, family and loved ones.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among healthcare workers.

Background: Monitoring COVID-19 infection risk among health care workers (HCWs) is a public health priority. We examined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs following the fall infection surge in Minnesota, and before and after COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, we assessed demographic and occupational risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Identification of Natural SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Seroprevalence Studies Among Vaccinated Populations.

Most SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays cannot distinguish between antibodies that developed after natural infection and those that developed after vaccination. We assessed the accuracy of a nucleocapsid-containing assay in identifying natural infection among vaccinated individuals. A longitudinal cohort composed of health care workers in the Minneapolis/St.

Stress, anxiety, and sleep among college and university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: We categorized levels of self-reported stress, anxiety, worry, and sleep among US college and university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We conducted an anonymous online survey between May 7 and June 21, 2020.

Results: Nearly all participants reported worry about the pandemic.

Identification of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in seroprevalence studies among vaccinated populations.

Importance: Identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection via antibody assays is important for monitoring natural infection rates. Most antibody assays cannot distinguish natural infection from vaccination.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of a nucleocapsid-containing assay in identifying natural infection among vaccinated individuals.

Severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) screening among symptom-free healthcare workers.

Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is possible among symptom-free individuals. Patients are avoiding medically necessary healthcare visits for fear of becoming infected in the healthcare setting. We screened 489 symptom-free healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2 and found no positive results, strongly suggesting that the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was <1%.

Does education about local vaccination rates and the importance of herd immunity change US parents' concern about measles?

It is unclear how broadly aware parents are of the concept of herd immunity and whether parents consider community benefits of vaccination when making decisions about their child's vaccinations. We aimed to determine whether educating parents about community-level benefits of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination and local vaccination rates would impact concern about their child's risk of measles and risk of a measles outbreak. We conducted an electronic survey among Minnesota parents of children aged 6-18 years in August 2016.

Adherence to American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Clinical Performance Measures in a Peruvian Neurological Reference Institute.

Background: Little is known about adherence to American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) stroke performance measures in developing countries like Peru.

Aims: We assessed adherence and determined factors associated with adherence to the AHA/ASA stroke performance measures at a reference center for neurological diseases in Lima, Peru.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 150 stroke patients admitted to the Neurological Institute of Neurological Science from 2014 to 2016 to ascertain adherence to 15 different AHA/ASA stroke performance measures.

SARS-CoV-2 Screening Among Symptom-Free Healthcare Workers.

Background: Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is possible among symptom-free individuals and some patients are avoiding medically necessary healthcare visits for fear of becoming infected in the healthcare setting. Limited data are available on the point prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in symptom-free U.S.