Validating the inactivation of viral pathogens with a focus on SARS-CoV-2 to safely transfer samples from high-containment laboratories.

Introduction: Pathogen leak from a high-containment laboratory seriously threatens human safety, animal welfare, and environmental security. Transportation of pathogens from a higher (BSL4 or BSL3) to a lower (BSL2) containment laboratory for downstream experimentation requires complete pathogen inactivation. Validation of pathogen inactivation is necessary to ensure safety during transportation.

Comparison of Brazilian High- and Maximum-Containment Laboratories Biosafety and Biosecurity Regulations to Legal Frameworks in the United States and Other Countries: Gaps and Opportunities.

Introduction: Although the United States and other countries have implemented comprehensive legislation, regulations, and policies to support biosafety and biosecurity of high- and maximum-containment laboratories, Brazil's legislation has notable gaps and inconsistencies.

Objective: To evaluate the Brazilian approach to ensuring nationwide biosafety and biosecurity oversight and governance of high- and maximum-containment laboratories.

Methods: A systematic gap analysis was conducted to compare Brazilian biosafety and biosecurity legislation, regulations, and policies with their international counterparts, with a particular focus on the oversight and governance of high- and maximum-containment laboratories.

Receptor-Binding-Motif-Targeted Sanger Sequencing: a Quick and Cost-Effective Strategy for Molecular Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is the gold standard for characterizing the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome and identification of new variants. However, the cost involved and time needed for WGS prevent routine, rapid clinical use. This study aimed to develop a quick and cost-effective surveillance strategy for SARS-CoV-2 variants in saliva and nasal swab samples by spike protein receptor-binding-motif (RBM)-targeted Sanger sequencing.

Case Report: Paucisymptomatic College-Age Population as a Reservoir for Potentially Neutralization-Resistant Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants.

To better understand the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant lineage distribution in a college campus population, we carried out viral genome surveillance over a 7-week period from January to March 2021. Among the sequences were three novel viral variants: BV-1 with a B.1.

Polymeric particles in vaccine delivery.

The tremendous power of the particulate vaccine delivery system has only recently been recognized and employed strategically in vaccine design. The entrapment of antigen in particles clearly alters its acquisition and processing by antigen presenting cells and ensuing adaptive immunity. The adjuvant activity of particles has recently been described at the molecular level as engaging the Nalp3 inflammasome and complementing the activity of toll-like receptor ligands.

Brucellosis: the case for live, attenuated vaccines.

The successful control of animal brucellosis and associated reduction in human exposure has limited the development of human brucellosis vaccines. However, the potential use of Brucella in bioterrorism or biowarfare suggests that direct intervention strategies are warranted. Although the dominant approach has explored the use of live attenuated vaccines, side effects associated with their use has prevented widespread use in humans.

Immunization with a single dose of a microencapsulated Brucella melitensis mutant enhances protection against wild-type challenge.

The development of safe and efficacious immunization systems to prevent brucellosis is needed to overcome the disadvantages of the currently licensed vaccine strains that restrict their use in humans. Alginate microspheres coated with a protein of the parasite Fasciola hepatica (vitelline protein B [VpB]) and containing live Brucella melitensis attenuated mutant vjbR::Tn5 (BMEII1116) were evaluated for vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity in mice. A single immunization dose in BALB/c mice with the encapsulated vjbR mutant improved protection against wild-type B.

Evaluation of novel Brucella melitensis unmarked deletion mutants for safety and efficacy in the goat model of brucellosis.

Pregnant goats were employed to assess unmarked deletion mutant vaccine candidates BMDeltaasp24, BMDeltacydBA, and BMDeltavirB2, as the target host species naturally infected with Brucella melitensis. Goats were assessed for the degree of pathology associated with the vaccine strains as well as the protective immunity afforded by each strain against abortion and infection after challenge with wild-type Brucella melitensis 16M. Both BMDeltaasp24 and BMDeltavirB2 were considered safe vaccine candidates in the pregnant goat model because they did not cause abortion or colonize fetal tissues.