Identifying falsified COVID-19 vaccines by analysing vaccine vial label and excipient profiles using MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry.

The rapid development and worldwide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is a remarkable achievement of biomedical research and logistical implementation. However, these developments are associated with the risk of a surge of substandard and falsified (SF) vaccines, as illustrated by the 184 incidents with SF and diverted COVID-19 vaccines which have been reported during the pandemic in 48 countries, with a paucity of methods for their detection in supply chains. In this context, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry (MS) is globally available for fast and accurate analysis of bacteria in patient samples, offering a potentially accessible solution to identify SF vaccines.

Biophysical insights into sugar-dependent medium acidification promoting YfaL protein-mediated self-aggregation, biofilm formation and acid stress resistance.

The ability of bacteria to interact with their environment is crucial to form aggregates and biofilms, and develop a collective stress resistance behavior. Despite its environmental and medical importance, bacterial aggregation is poorly understood and mediated by few known adhesion structures. Here, we identified a new role for a surface-exposed protein, YfaL, which can self-recognize and induce bacterial autoaggregation.

Using matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry combined with machine learning for vaccine authenticity screening.

The global population is increasingly reliant on vaccines to maintain population health with billions of doses used annually in immunisation programmes. Substandard and falsified vaccines are becoming more prevalent, caused by both the degradation of authentic vaccines but also deliberately falsified vaccine products. These threaten public health, and the increase in vaccine falsification is now a major concern.

Acute and chronic toxicity of rare earth elements-enriched sediments from a prospective mining area: Effects on life history traits, behavioural and physiological responses of Gammarus fossarum (Crustacea Amphipoda).

Rare earth elements (REE) have an essential role and growing importance in the world's economy. They are attracting interest from society, policymakers, and scientists. The rapidly growing global demand for REE in several strategic industrial and agricultural sectors led many countries to consider the (re)-opening of mining activities for REE extraction.

Repurposing rapid diagnostic tests to detect falsified vaccines in supply chains.

Substandard (including degraded) and falsified (SF) vaccines are a relatively neglected issue with serious global implications for public health. This has been highlighted during the rapid and widespread rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. There has been increasing interest in devices to screen for SF non-vaccine medicines including tablets and capsules to empower inspectors and standardise surveillance.

Physicochemical surface properties of : a multiscale assessment, from electrokinetic and proton uptake descriptors to intermolecular adhesion forces.

Given the growing scientific and industrial interests in green microalgae, a comprehensive understanding of the forces controlling the colloidal stability of these bioparticles and their interactions with surrounding aqueous microenvironment is required. Accordingly, we addressed here the electrostatic and hydrophobic surface properties of from the population down to the individual cell levels. We first investigated the organisation of the electrical double layer at microalgae surfaces on the basis of electrophoresis measurements.

Photodegradation of disposable polypropylene face masks: Physicochemical properties of debris and implications for the toxicity of mask-carried river biofilms.

COVID-19 outbreak led to a massive dissemination of protective polypropylene (PP) face masks in the environment, posing a new environmental risk amplified by mask photodegradation and fragmentation. Masks are made up of a several kilometres long-network of fibres with diameter from a few microns to around 20 µm. After photodegradation, these fibres disintegrate, producing water dispersible debris.

Innovative method for rapid detection of falsified COVID-19 vaccines through unopened vials using handheld Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS).

Preventing, detecting, and responding to substandard and falsified vaccines is of critical importance for ensuring the safety, efficacy, and public trust in vaccines. This is of heightened importance in context of public health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in which extreme world-wide shortages of vaccines provided a fertile ground for exploitation by falsifiers. Here, a proof-of-concept study explored the feasibility of using a handheld Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) device to authenticate COVID-19 vaccines through rapid analysis of unopened vaccine vials.

The uncertain role of substandard and falsified medicines in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Approximately 10% of antimicrobials used by humans in low- and middle-income countries are estimated to be substandard or falsified. In addition to their negative impact on morbidity and mortality, they may also be important drivers of antimicrobial resistance. Despite such concerns, our understanding of this relationship remains rudimentary.

Is this pill an antibiotic or a painkiller? Improving the identification of oral antibiotics for better use.

In this Viewpoint, we discuss how the identification of oral antibiotics and their distinction from other commonly used medicines can be challenging for consumers, suppliers, and health-care professionals. There is a large variation in the names that people use to refer to antibiotics and these often relate to their physical appearance, although antibiotics come in many different physical presentations. We also reflect on how the physical appearance of medicine influences health care and public health by affecting communication between patients and health-care professionals, dispensing , medicine use, and the public understanding of health campaigns.

Haemagglutination inhibition and virus microneutralisation serology assays: use of harmonised protocols and biological standards in seasonal influenza serology testing and their impact on inter-laboratory variation and assay correlation: A FLUCOP collaborative study.

Introduction: The haemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI) and the virus microneutralisation assay (MN) are long-established methods for quantifying antibodies against influenza viruses. Despite their widespread use, both assays require standardisation to improve inter-laboratory agreement in testing. The FLUCOP consortium aims to develop a toolbox of standardised serology assays for seasonal influenza.

An external quality assessment feasibility study; cross laboratory comparison of haemagglutination inhibition assay and microneutralization assay performance for seasonal influenza serology testing: A FLUCOP study.

Introduction: External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes are designed to provide a snapshot of laboratory proficiency, identifying issues and providing feedback to improve laboratory performance and inter-laboratory agreement in testing. Currently there are no international EQA schemes for seasonal influenza serology testing. Here we present a feasibility study for conducting an EQA scheme for influenza serology methods.

The quality of antiretroviral medicines: an uncertain problem.

Objectives: Substandard and falsified (SF) antiretrovirals (ARVs) risk poor outcomes and drug resistance, potentially affecting millions of people in need of treatment and prevention. We assessed the available evidence on SF ARV and related medical devices to discuss their potential public health impact.

Methods: Searches were conducted in Embase, PubMed, Google, Google Scholar, Web of Science and websites with interest in ARV quality in English and French up to 30 November 2021.

Environmental DNA as an innovative technique to identify the origins of falsified antimalarial tablets-a pilot study of the pharmabiome.

Falsified medicines are a major threat to global health. Antimalarial drugs have been particularly targeted by criminals. As DNA analysis has revolutionized forensic criminology, we hypothesized that these techniques could also be used to investigate the origins of falsified medicines.

Host cell stress response as a predictor of COVID-19 infectivity and disease progression.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by a coronavirus identified in December 2019 has caused a global pandemic. COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020 and has led to more than 6.3 million deaths.

Substandard and falsified antibiotics: neglected drivers of antimicrobial resistance?

Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health threat with substandard and falsified (SF) antibiotics being neglected contributing factors. With their relationships poorly understood, more research is needed in order to determine how interventions to reduce SF antibiotics should be ranked as priorities in national AMR action plans. We assessed the evidence available on the global prevalence of SF antibiotics, examined the quality of the evidence and discussed public health impact.

The quality of veterinary medicines and their implications for One Health.

Objective: Substandard and falsified (SF) veterinary medicines affect animal health, agricultural production and food security and will influence antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in both animals and humans. Yet, our understanding of their extent and impact is poor. We assess the available public domain evidence on the epidemiology of SF veterinary medicines, to better understand their prevalence and distribution and their public health impact on animals and humans.

Inhibitors of the Hsp90 towards Selective Antimalarial Drug Design: The Past, Present and Future.

Malaria is still one of the major killer parasitic diseases in tropical settings, posing a public health threat. The development of antimalarial drug resistance is reversing the gains made in attempts to control the disease. The parasite leads a complex life cycle that has adapted to outwit almost all known antimalarial drugs to date, including the first line of treatment, artesunate.

Evaluation of portable devices for medicine quality screening: Lessons learnt, recommendations for implementation, and future priorities.

Céline Caillet and co-authors discuss a Collection on use of portable devices for the evaluation of medicine quality and legitimacy.

A comparative field evaluation of six medicine quality screening devices in Laos.

Background: Medicine quality screening devices hold great promise for post-market surveillance (PMS). However, there is little independent evidence on their field utility and usability to inform policy decisions. This pilot study in the Lao PDR tested six devices' utility and usability in detecting substandard and falsified (SF) medicines.

Implementation of field detection devices for antimalarial quality screening in Lao PDR-A cost-effectiveness analysis.

Substandard and falsified (SF) antimalarials have devastating consequences including increased morbidity, mortality and economic losses. Portable medicine quality screening devices are increasingly available, but whether their use for the detection of SF antimalarials is cost-effective is not known. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of introducing such devices in post-market surveillance in pharmacies in Laos, conservatively focusing on their outcome in detecting SF artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).

The quality of medical products for cardiovascular diseases: a gap in global cardiac care.

Objective: Good quality cardiovascular medicines and devices are crucial in the prevention and management of the ever-growing threats of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) globally. Yet our current understanding of the extent and impact of substandard and falsified (SF) cardiovascular medical products is poor. Our objective was to review the available literature on SF cardiovascular medicines/devices, with a focus on prevalence studies to discuss their impacts on public health.