Multiplex lateral flow test sensitivity and specificity in detecting influenza A, B and SARS-CoV-2 in adult patients in a UK emergency department.

Background: Rapid identification of individuals with acute respiratory infections is crucial for preventing nosocomial infections. For rapid diagnosis, especially in EDs, lateral flow devices (LFDs) are a convenient, inexpensive option with a rapid turnaround. Several 'multiplex' LFDs (M-LFDs) now exist, testing for multiple pathogens from a single swab sample.

Congenital conjunctival cyst detected by prenatal ultrasound.

Purpose: The purpose of this manuscript is to report a rare case of an orbital cyst detected intrauterine with sonography.

Observation: A 23-year-old female presented for routine prenatal monitoring when an orbital cyst was detected with a transabdominal ultrasound. Uncomplicated cesarean section was performed at 38 weeks gestation with proptosis of the left globe being noted on ophthalmic examination of the newborn.

The TLR7/8 agonist INI-4001 enhances the immunogenicity of a Powassan virus-like-particle vaccine.

Powassan virus (POWV) is a pathogenic tick-borne flavivirus that causes fatal neuroinvasive disease in humans. There are currently no approved therapies or vaccines for POWV infection. Here, we develop a POW virus-like-particle (POW-VLP) based vaccine adjuvanted with the novel synthetic Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist INI-4001.

Effects of COVID-19 virus-like particles on the behavioral and cognitive performance of human apolipoprotein E targeted replacement mice.

Introduction: The effects of viral infections might be apolipoprotein E (apoE) isoform-dependent. In humans, there are three major apoE isoforms, E2, E3, and E4. E4 is associated with the enhanced entry of several viruses into the brain and their disease progression.

Systemic exposure to COVID-19 virus-like particles modulates firing patterns of cortical neurons in the living mouse brain.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a systemic infection that affects the central nervous system. We used virus-like particles (VLPs) to explore how exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 proteins affects brain activity patterns in wild-type (WT) mice and in mice that express the wild-type human tau protein (htau mice). VLP exposure elicited dose-dependent changes in corticosterone and distinct chemokine levels.