Swiss public health measures associated with reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission using genome data.

Genome sequences from evolving infectious pathogens allow quantification of case introductions and local transmission dynamics. We sequenced 11,357 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes from Switzerland in 2020-the sixth largest effort globally. Using a representative subset of these data, we estimated viral introductions to Switzerland and their persistence over the course of 2020.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Alpha and Delta Variant Breakthrough Infections Are Rare and Mild but Can Happen Relatively Early after Vaccination.

(1) Background: Some COVID-19 vaccine recipients show breakthrough infection. It remains unknown, which factors contribute to risks and severe outcomes. Our aim was to identify risk factors for SCoV2 breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated individuals.

COVID salivary diagnostics: A comparative technical study.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, molecular diagnostics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have taken center stage in the detection of infected individuals for isolation purposes but also in the mass surveillance as a preventive strategy to contain the virus spread. While nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) have remained the golden standard substrate, salivary diagnostic for SARS-CoV-2 has been proposed as an alternative and noninvasive measure in vulnerable individuals. Nevertheless, there is a widespread assumption that salivary reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) does not match the quality of testing using NPS and particular care should be taken in respect to food or beverage intake, when sampling saliva.

Quantification of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 in Switzerland.

Background: In December 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) reported a SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern (VoC) which is now named B.1.1.

SARS-CoV-2 N501Y Introductions and Transmissions in Switzerland from Beginning of October 2020 to February 2021-Implementation of Swiss-Wide Diagnostic Screening and Whole Genome Sequencing.

The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 lineages B.1.1.

Constituents from oak bark (Quercus robur L.) inhibit degranulation and allergic mediator release from basophils and mast cells in vitro.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Oak bark has been used since ancient times in Europaen ethnomedicine because of its adstringent, antimicrobial and hemostatic features, e.g. as a remedy for the treatment of wounds and skin diseases.

Comparing Luminex NxTAG-Respiratory Pathogen Panel and RespiFinder-22 for multiplex detection of respiratory pathogens.

Respiratory tract infection (RTI) involves a variety of viruses and bacteria, which can be conveniently detected by multiplex nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT). To compare the novel Luminex-based NxTAG-Respiratory Pathogen Panel (NxTAG-RPP) with the routine multiplex-ligation-NAT based RespiFinder-22® (RF-22), 282 respiratory specimens including nasopharyngeal swabs (71%), broncho-alveolar lavage (27%), throat swabs, tracheal secretions, and sputum (2%) from 116 children and 155 adults were extracted using a Corbett CAS1200 (Qiagen), and analyzed in parallel by the routine RF-22 and NxTAG-RPP. Concordant results were obtained in 263 (93.

Diagnostic performance of near-patient testing for influenza.

Background: Rapid diagnosis of influenza is important for controlling outbreaks and starting antiviral therapy. Direct antigen detection (DAD) is rapid, but lacks sensitivity, whereas nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) is more sensitive, but also more time-consuming.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of a rapid isothermal NAT and two DADs.

Antibiotic treatment of pertussis: are 7 days really sufficient?

Short courses of antibiotic therapy are recommended for treatment of pertussis. We report 2 young unvaccinated infants with persistently positive Bordetella pertussis by polymerase chain reaction from nasopharyngeal swabs despite 7 days of clarithromycin (15 mg/kg/d) therapy. In 1 patient, quantitative polymerase chain reaction was 7.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome in a 65-Year-old male linked to a very unusual type of stx2e- and eae-harboring O51:H49 shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli.

We report on a 65-year-old male patient with a Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O51:H49 gastrointestinal infection and sepsis associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) with a fatal outcome. The strains isolated harbored stx2e and eae, a very unusual and new virulence profile for an HUS-associated enterohemorrhagic E. coli.

In vitro antiallergic effects of aqueous fermented preparations from Citrus and Cydonia fruits.

This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory and antiallergic properties of preparations from lemon, Citrus medica L. (citrus), and quince, Cydonia oblonga Mill. (Cydonia), which are used in pharmaceutical products to treat patients suffering from allergic disorders.

Safety and effects of two mistletoe preparations on production of Interleukin-6 and other immune parameters - a placebo controlled clinical trial in healthy subjects.

Background: In Germany, Iscucin® Populi (IP), a preparation from mistletoe growing on the poplar tree, is used in cancer therapy while Viscum Mali e planta tota (VM), a preparation from mistletoe growing on the apple tree, is used in patients with osteoarthritis. Since mistletoe preparations are suspected to induce production of potentially tumor promoting cytokines like interleukin (IL)-6, further studies on the immunological effects are of interest.

Methods: In this 3-armed randomized, double blind clinical trial healthy volunteers received increasing doses of either IP (strength F, 0.

Comparison of a UL111a real-time PCR and pp65 antigenemia for the detection of cytomegalovirus.

Surveillance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication in transplant patients is crucial for the success of transplantation. To compare a CMV pp65 antigenemia (pp65Ag) and a quantitative real-time PCR targeting the CMV-UL111a (UL111aPCR), all whole blood samples taken between July 2008 and October 2009 were identified which had been analyzed prospectively by both assays in parallel. Discordant results were re-analyzed using a published CMV duplex PCR targeting regions UL55 and UL123exon4.

Use of phage display to identify potential Pseudomonas aeruginosa gene products relevant to early cystic fibrosis airway infections.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis. Treatment of established infections is difficult, even with microbiologically active agents. Thus, prevention of infection is an important goal of management.

Identification of novel adhesins from Group B streptococci by use of phage display reveals that C5a peptidase mediates fibronectin binding.

Group B streptococci (GBS) are a major cause of pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis in newborns and infants. GBS initiate infection of the lung by colonizing mucosal surfaces of the respiratory tract; adherence of the bacteria to host cells is presumed to be the initial step in and prerequisite for successful colonization (G. S.