Eosinophils protect against SARS-CoV-2 following a vaccine breakthrough infection.

Waning immunity and the emergence of immune evasive SARS-CoV-2 variants jeopardize vaccine efficacy leading to breakthrough infections. We have previously shown that innate immune cells play a critical role in controlling SARS-CoV-2. To investigate the innate immune response during breakthrough infections, we modeled breakthrough infections by challenging low-dose vaccinated mice with a vaccine-mismatched SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant.

CD4 and CD8 T cells are required to prevent SARS-CoV-2 persistence in the nasal compartment.

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces the generation of virus-specific CD4 and CD8 effector and memory T cells. However, the contribution of T cells in controlling SARS-CoV-2 during infection is not well understood. Following infection of C57BL/6 mice, SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells are recruited to the respiratory tract, and a vast proportion secrete the cytotoxic molecule granzyme B.

Poly-basic peptides and polymers as new drug candidates against Plasmodium falciparum.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria-causing parasite, is a leading cause of infection-induced deaths worldwide. The preferred treatment approach is artemisinin-based combination therapy, which couples fast-acting artemisinin derivatives with longer-acting drugs, such as lumefantrine, mefloquine, and amodiaquine. However, the urgency for new treatments has risen due to the parasite's growing resistance to existing therapies.

Interpersonal Loneliness Predicts the Frequency and Intensity of Nightmares: An Examination of Theoretic Mechanisms.

The evolutionary theory of loneliness (ETL) argues that human belongingness is essential to survival and failing to meet belongingness needs constitutes a threat to viability. In two separate studies (total  = 1,609), links between loneliness and nightmares were examined as a test of ETL postulates. As hypothesized, loneliness predicted nightmare frequency (both studies) and nightmare intensity (Study Two only).