The molecular reach of antibodies crucially underpins their viral neutralisation capacity.

Key functions of antibodies, such as viral neutralisation, depend on high-affinity binding. However, viral neutralisation poorly correlates with antigen affinity for reasons that have been unclear. Here, we use a new mechanistic model of bivalent binding to study  >45 patient-isolated IgG1 antibodies interacting with SARS-CoV-2 RBD surfaces.

Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Effects of Zafirlukast Against Flaviviruses via Inhibition of the TNF Signaling Pathway.

The two most clinically important members of the flavivirus genus, Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) pose a significant public health challenge. They cause a range of diseases in humans, from hemorrhagic to neurological manifestations, leading to economic and social burden worldwide. Nevertheless, there are no approved antiviral drugs to treat these infections.

Confronting risks of mirror life.

Broad discussion is needed to chart a path forward.

The Minnesota Critical Care Working Group 1: Monitoring and coordinating statewide critical care surge response in the COVID-19 pandemic, March 2020 through July 1, 2021.

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and as part of the statewide healthcare coalition response the Minnesota Critical Care Working Group (CCWG), composed of Interprofessional leaders from the state's nine largest health systems was established and entrusted to plan and coordinate critical care support for Minnesota from March 2020 through July1, 2021.

Research Question: Can a statewide Critical Care Working Group develop contingency and crisis level surge strategies and indicators in response to the COVID-19 pandemic while evolving into a highly collaborative team?

Study Design And Methods: CCWG members (Intensivists, ethicists, nurses, MDH and MHA leaders) met by audio video conferencing as often as daily assessing COVID and non-COVID hospitalization data, developed surge indicators reflecting contingency versus crisis conditions, and planned responses collaboratively. A foundation of collaboration and teamwork developed which facilitated an effective statewide response.

The Minnesota Critical Care Working Group 2: Crisis conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic, July 2021 through March 2022.

Background: At the request of the Statewide Healthcare Coordination Center, the Minnesota Critical Care Working Group (CCWG) and ethics subgroup (EWG), composed of interprofessional leaders from Minnesota's nine largest health systems were asked to plan and coordinate critical care operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the 2021 Fall surge.

Research Question: Can a statewide Working Group collaboratively analyze real time evidence to identify crisis conditions and engage state leadership to implement care processes?

Study Design And Methods: CCWG/EWG met via video conferencing during the Fall 2021 severe surge to analyze evidence and plan for potential crisis care conditions. Five sources of evidence informed their actions including group consensus on operating conditions; Federal Tele-Tracking data; MOCC patient placement data; and two surveys created and distributed to hospitals and healthcare professionals.

Endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis associated with Q fever endocarditis: A case report.

Acute Coxiella burnetti (Q fever) infection is known to activate the autoimmune inflammatory response. We report a rare case of glomerulonephritis associated with the Coxiella infection. An elderly male first presented with recurrent fevers of unknown origin and was subsequently diagnosed with Q fever infection and treated with doxycycline.

Overlap syndromes in sarcoidosis: Unveiling the masquerader.

As a multi system granulomatous disease, clinical presentations of sarcoidosis are highly variable. In the absence of a stereotypical clinical presentation such as asymptomatic bilateral hilar adenopathy, Lofgren's syndrome, or lupus pernio, a diagnosis of sarcoidosis typically requires 1) compatible clinical presentation, 2) histologic evidence of granulomatous inflammation, and 3) the exclusion of other causes. The clinical presentation of sarcoidosis is often nonspecific and a variety of other causes of granulomatous inflammation can make diagnosing sarcoidosis a challenge for clinicians.

Differential tissue distribution of pharmaceuticals in a wild subtropical marine fish.

To date, the presence of pharmaceuticals has been extensively documented across a wide range of aquatic systems and biota. Further, substantial progress has been made in transitioning from laboratory assessments of pharmaceutical fate and effects in fish to in situ assessments of exposure and effects; however, certain research areas remain understudied. Among these is investigation of differential accumulation across multiple internal tissues in wild marine fish beyond the species commonly sampled in laboratory and freshwater field settings.

Identifying pathways of pharmaceutical exposure in a mesoconsumer marine fish.

Pharmaceutical uptake involves processes that vary across aquatic systems and biota. However, single studies examining multiple environmental compartments, microhabitats, biota, and exposure pathways in mesoconsumer fish are sparse. We investigated the pharmaceutical burden in bonefish (Albula vulpes), pathways of exposure, and estimated exposure to a human daily dose.

Targeting glucose metabolism with dichloroacetate (DCA) reduces zika virus replication in brain cortical progenitors at different stages of maturation.

The underlying threat of new Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks remains, as no vaccines or therapies have yet been developed. In vitro research has shown that glycolysis is a key factor to enable sustained ZIKV replication in neuroprogenitors. However, neither in vivo nor clinical investigation of glycolytic modulators as potential therapeutics for ZIKV-related fetal abnormalities has been conducted.

Introducing virtual reality to older adults: A qualitative analysis of a co-design innovation with care staff.

Previous studies of Virtual Reality (VR) in aged care settings have demonstrated that the benefits can be multiple, including improved social connection and engagement and reduced social isolation in later life. However, there remains a lack of widespread uptake of VR in aged care facilities. This prompts an important question: Given the potential benefits, why is there such poor engagement in VR by aged care facilities? The aim of this qualitative study is to investigate the experience of introducing VR into an aged care facility.

Structural and functional characterization of nanobodies that neutralize Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.

The Omicron strains of SARS-CoV-2 pose a significant challenge to the development of effective antibody-based treatments as immune evasion has compromised most available immune therapeutics. Therefore, in the 'arms race' with the virus, there is a continuing need to identify new biologics for the prevention or treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Here, we report the isolation of nanobodies that bind to the Omicron BA.

Identifying key health system components associated with improved outcomes to inform the re-configuration of services for adults with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Adults with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases face unique challenges and struggles to navigate health-care systems designed to manage common conditions. Evidence to inform an optimal service framework for their care is scarce. Using systemic vasculitis as an exemplar, we aimed to identify and explain the key service components underpinning effective care for rare diseases.

Future malaria environmental suitability in Africa is sensitive to hydrology.

Changes in climate shift the geographic locations that are suitable for malaria transmission because of the thermal constraints on vector mosquitos and spp. malaria parasites and the lack of availability of surface water for vector breeding. Previous Africa-wide assessments have tended to solely represent surface water using precipitation, ignoring many important hydrological processes.

Proactive vaccination using multiviral Quartet Nanocages to elicit broad anti-coronavirus responses.

Defending against future pandemics requires vaccine platforms that protect across a range of related pathogens. Nanoscale patterning can be used to address this issue. Here, we produce quartets of linked receptor-binding domains (RBDs) from a panel of SARS-like betacoronaviruses, coupled to a computationally designed nanocage through SpyTag/SpyCatcher links.

Infection prevention and control and related practices in African neonatal units: The Pan-African neonatal care assessment study (PANCAS).

Background: The burden of neonatal mortality is primarily borne by low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including deaths due to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Few studies have assessed infection prevention and control (IP&C) practices in African units caring for small and/or sick newborns aimed to reduce HAIs.

Methods: We performed a mixed-methods study composed of a survey and virtual tour to assess IP&C and related practices.

Widespread habitat loss leads to ecosystem-scale decrease in trophic function.

Natural and anthropogenic disturbances have led to rapid declines in the amount and quality of available habitat in many ecosystems. Many studies have focused on how habitat loss has affected the composition and configuration of habitats, but there have been fewer studies that investigate how this loss affects ecosystem function. We investigated how a large-scale seagrass die-off altered the distribution of energetic resources of three seagrass-associated consumers with varied resource use patterns.

Why aquatic scientists should use sulfur stable isotope ratios (ẟS) more often.

Over the last few decades, measurements of light stable isotope ratios have been increasingly used to answer questions across physiology, biology, ecology, and archaeology. The vast majority analyse carbon (δC) and nitrogen (δN) stable isotopes as the 'default' isotopes, omitting sulfur (δS) due to time, cost, or perceived lack of benefits and instrumentation capabilities. Using just carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios can produce results that are inconclusive, uncertain, or in the worst cases, even misleading, especially for scientists that are new to the use and interpretation of stable isotope data.

COVID-19 pandemic and the social determinants of health.

Hesitancy to receive a COVID-19 vaccination across sub-groups within the US population contributed to higher illness rates and deaths. Specifically, minority groups and those living in rural and remote areas are more vaccine-hesitant populations known to suffer from higher disparities in health. Identifying successful and replicable approaches to promoting vaccination within these subpopulations is critical to ensuring vaccination rates can be maximized in these vulnerable groups.