Publications by authors named "Justin Silva"

Numerous studies have been trying to create nanomaterial-based antimicrobial surfaces to prevent infections due to bacterial growth. One major challenge in real-world applications of these surfaces is their mechanical durability. In this study, we introduce durable antimicrobial microstructure surface (DAMS), which integrates DLP 3D-printed microstructures with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflowers.

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A. Numerous studies have been trying to create nanomaterials based antimicrobial surfaces to combat the growing bacterial infection problems. Mechanical durability has become one of the major challenges to applying those surfaces in real life.

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Vaccination will likely be a key component of strategies to curtail or prevent future sarbecovirus pandemics and to reduce the prevalence of infection and disease by future SARS-CoV-2 variants. A "pan-sarbecovirus" vaccine, that provides maximum possible mitigation of human disease, should elicit neutralizing antibodies with maximum possible breadth. By positioning multiple different receptor binding domain (RBD) antigens in close proximity on a single immunogen, it is postulated that cross-reactive B cell receptors might be selectively engaged.

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Individuals who receive a third mRNA vaccine dose show enhanced protection against severe COVID-19, but little is known about the impact of breakthrough infections on memory responses. Here, we examine the memory antibodies that develop after a third or fourth antigenic exposure by Delta or Omicron BA.1 infection, respectively.

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Background: The Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant has spread internationally and is responsible for rapidly increasing case numbers. The emergence of divergent variants in the context of a heterogeneous and evolving neutralizing antibody response in host populations might compromise protection afforded by vaccines or prior infection.

Methods: We measured neutralizing antibody titers in 169 longitudinally collected plasma samples using pseudotypes bearing the Wuhan-hu-1 or the Omicron variant or a laboratory-designed neutralization-resistant SARS-CoV-2 spike (PMS20).

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Antibodies elicited by infection accumulate somatic mutations in germinal centers that can increase affinity for cognate antigens. We analyzed 6 independent groups of clonally related severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific antibodies from 5 individuals shortly after infection and later in convalescence to determine the impact of maturation over months. In addition to increased affinity and neutralization potency, antibody evolution changed the mutational pathways for the acquisition of viral resistance and restricted neutralization escape options.

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More than one year after its inception, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains difficult to control despite the availability of several working vaccines. Progress in controlling the pandemic is slowed by the emergence of variants that appear to be more transmissible and more resistant to antibodies. Here we report on a cohort of 63 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 assessed at 1.

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Over one year after its inception, the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains difficult to control despite the availability of several excellent vaccines. Progress in controlling the pandemic is slowed by the emergence of variants that appear to be more transmissible and more resistant to antibodies . Here we report on a cohort of 63 COVID-19-convalescent individuals assessed at 1.

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Antibodies elicited in response to infection undergo somatic mutation in germinal centers that can result in higher affinity for the cognate antigen. To determine the effects of somatic mutation on the properties of SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific antibodies, we analyzed six independent antibody lineages. As well as increased neutralization potency, antibody evolution changed pathways for acquisition of resistance and, in some cases, restricted the range of neutralization escape options.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study examined the responses of 20 volunteers who received the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and found that after eight weeks, they had high levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and memory B cells similar to those who recovered from infection.
  • - While the vaccines produced potent neutralizing antibodies targeting the virus, their effectiveness against certain variants with mutations (E484K, N501Y, K417N) was notably reduced.
  • - The findings indicate that it’s crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies against new variants and suggest that mRNA vaccines may require updates over time to maintain their effectiveness.
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Article Synopsis
  • Over 100 million people have been infected by SARS-CoV-2, resulting in over two million deaths, prompting the use of mRNA vaccines like Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech to combat COVID-19.
  • A study of 20 volunteers showed that both vaccines produced strong antibody responses and memory B cells, comparable to those seen in individuals recovered from natural infections.
  • However, the effectiveness of these vaccine-induced antibodies was slightly reduced against certain SARS-CoV-2 variants, indicating that continuous monitoring and potential updates to vaccines may be necessary to maintain their efficacy.
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