Associations between SARS-CoV-2 Infection or COVID-19 Vaccination and Human Milk Composition: A Multi-Omics Approach.

Background: The risk of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via human milk-feeding is virtually nonexistent. Adverse effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination for lactating individuals are not different from the general population, and no evidence has been found that their infants exhibit adverse effects. Yet, there remains substantial hesitation among this population globally regarding the safety of these vaccines.

Unique Kinetics of the Human Milk Antibody Response to JYNNEOS Vaccine for Prevention of Monkey Pox: A Case Study.

JYNNEOS is a nonreplicating modified vaccinia Ankara vaccine currently licensed to prevent monkeypox infection, and its milk immunogenicity remains unstudied. Investigate the human milk immunogenicity of the JYNNEOS vaccine in one individual and examine the milk for evidence of vaccine components. Immunogenicity of milk and plasma samples were tested by Luminex assays against Vaccinia antigens, and vaccine components were tested using PCR and sandwich ELISA.

In Vivo Antiviral Efficacy of LCTG-002, a Pooled, Purified Human Milk Secretory IgA product, Against SARS-CoV-2 in a Murine Model of COVID-19.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most abundant antibody (Ab) in human mucosal compartments including the respiratory tract, with the secretory form of IgA (sIgA) being dominant and uniquely stable in these environments. sIgA is naturally found in human milk, which could be considered a global resource for this biologic, justifying the development of human milk sIgA as a dedicated airway therapeutic for respiratory infections such as SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, methods were therefore developed to efficiently extract human milk sIgA from donors who were either immunologically naïve to SARS-CoV-2 (pooled as a control IgA) or had recovered from a PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection that elicited high-titer anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike sIgA Abs in their milk (pooled together to make LCTG-002).

The Secretory IgA Response in Human Milk Against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Is Highly Durable and Neutralizing for At Least 1 Year of Lactation Postinfection.

Although in the early pandemic period COVID-19 pathology among young children and infants was typically less severe compared with that observed among adults, this has not remained entirely consistent as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants have emerged. There is an enormous body of evidence demonstrating the benefits of human milk antibodies (Abs) in protecting infants against a wide range of enteric and respiratory infections. It is highly plausible that the same holds true for protection against SARS-CoV-2 as this virus infects cells of the gastrointestinal and respiratory mucosae.

Assessment of human milk samples obtained pre and post-influenza vaccination reveals a poor boosting of seasonally-relevant, hemagglutinin-specific antibodies.

Introduction: Influenza (flu) vaccination prevented over 100,000 hospitalizations and 7000 deaths from flu over the 2019-2020 season in the USA. Infants <6 months are the most likely to die from flu, though flu vaccines are only licensed for infants >6 months old. Therefore, it is recommended that flu vaccination occur during pregnancy, as this reduces severe complications; however, vaccination rates are suboptimal, and vaccination is also recommended postpartum.

The secretory IgA (sIgA) response in human milk against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike is highly durable and neutralizing for at least 1 year of lactation post-infection.

Although in the early pandemic period, COVID-19 pathology among young children and infants was typically less severe compared to that observed among adults, this has not remained entirely consistent as SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged. There is an enormous body of evidence demonstrating the benefits of human milk antibodies (Abs) in protecting infants against a wide range of enteric and respiratory infections. It is highly plausible that the same holds true for protection against SARS-CoV-2, as this virus infects cells of the gastrointestinal and respiratory mucosae.

Culture Conditions for Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Schwann Cells: A Two-Centre Study.

Adult human Schwann cells represent a relevant tool for studying peripheral neuropathies and developing regenerative therapies to treat nerve damage. Primary adult human Schwann cells are, however, difficult to obtain and challenging to propagate in culture. One potential solution is to generate Schwann cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).

Animal tracing with sulfur isotopes: Spatial segregation and climate variability in Africa likely contribute to population trends of a migratory songbird.

Climatic conditions affect animals but range-wide impacts at the population level remain largely unknown, especially in migratory species. However, studying climate-population relationships is still challenging in small migrants due to a lack of efficient and cost-effective geographic tracking method. Spatial distribution patterns of environmental stable isotopes (so called 'isoscapes') generally overcome these limitations but none of the currently available isoscapes provide a substantial longitudinal gradient in species-rich sub-Saharan Africa.

Evaluation of phenytoin loading doses in overweight patients using actual versus adjusted body weight.

Background And Objectives: The appropriate loading dose strategy for phenytoin/fosphenytoin in overweight patients is unknown. A small pharmacokinetic study indicated that overweight patients have a higher volume of distribution and potentially would benefit from using adjusted body weight (AdjBW) instead of actual body weight (ABW) to calculate the loading dose. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal loading dose strategy of phenytoin in patients whose ABW is greater than 120% of their ideal body weight (IBW) using either ABW or AdjBW for calculation of the loading dose.

Reverse Triggering: An Introduction to Diagnosis, Management, and Pharmacologic Implications.

Reverse triggering is an underdiagnosed form of patient-ventilator asynchrony in which a passive ventilator-delivered breath triggers a neural response resulting in involuntary patient effort and diaphragmatic contraction. Reverse triggering may significantly impact patient outcomes, and the unique physiology underscores critical potential implications for drug-device-patient interactions. The purpose of this review is to summarize what is known of reverse triggering and its pharmacotherapeutic consequences, with a particular focus on describing reported cases, physiology, historical context, epidemiology, and management.

Comparative Profiles of SARS-CoV-2 Spike-Specific Human Milk Antibodies Elicited by mRNA- and Adenovirus-Based COVID-19 Vaccines.

Numerous COVID-19 vaccines are authorized globally. To date, ∼71% of doses comprise the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and ∼17% the Moderna/NIH vaccine, both of which are messenger RNA (mRNA) based. The chimpanzee Ad-based Oxford/AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine comprises ∼9%, while the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J) human adenovirus (Ad26) vaccine ranks fourth at ∼2%.

Impact of IgG Isotype on the Induction of Antibody-Dependent Cellular Phagocytosis of HIV by Human Milk Leukocytes.

Approximately 100,000 mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) events of HIV human milk feeding occur each year. However, only about 15% of infants milk-fed by untreated HIV+ mothers become infected, suggesting a protective effect of the milk itself. Infants ingest 10-10 maternal leukocytes daily milk, which remain functional beyond ingestion.

Qualitative immunoassay for the detection of anti-SARS-COV-2 spike antibody in human milk samples.

Antibodies in milk obtained from those previously SARS-CoV-2-infected or vaccinated against COVID-19 may provide passive immunity to the breastfed infant. Few assays have been established to measure antibodies in human milk, despite the public health importance of this topic. In the present protocol, we describe an optimized indirect ELISA assay aimed to measure SARS-CoV-2-reactive antibodies in human milk, which can be used as a rapid screen on undiluted samples or to designate samples as relatively low, moderate, or high titer.

The IgA in milk induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection is comprised of mainly secretory antibody that is neutralizing and highly durable over time.

Approximately 10% of infants infected with SARS-CoV-2 will experience COVID-19 illness requiring advanced care. A potential mechanism to protect this population is passive immunization via the milk of a previously infected person. We and others have reported on the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in human milk.

Human Milk SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies up to 6 Months After Vaccination.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific antibodies have been detected in human milk up to 6 weeks post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, neutralization activity, effect of pasteurization, and persistence through 6 months after vaccination.

Methods: This prospective longitudinal study enrolled 30 pregnant or lactating women.

Safety of breast/chest-feeding by those infected by SARS-CoV-2.

Purpose Of Review: One important question from the outset of the pandemic has been whether a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected person's milk might be a vehicle for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. This review summarizes the most recent data on this topic.

Recent Findings: A SARS-CoV-2 sIgA response in milk after infection is very common.

Differential pre-pandemic breast milk IgA reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 and circulating human coronaviruses in Ugandan and American mothers.

Objective: Uganda has registered fewer coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and deaths per capita than Western countries. The lower numbers of cases and deaths might be due to pre-existing cross-immunity induced by circulating common cold human coronaviruses (HCoVs) before the COVID-19 pandemic. To investigate pre-existing mucosal antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, a comparison was performed of IgA reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 and HCoVs in milk from mothers collected in 2018.

Natural Biomaterials as Instructive Engineered Microenvironments That Direct Cellular Function in Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering.

Nerve tissue function and regeneration depend on precise and well-synchronised spatial and temporal control of biological, physical, and chemotactic cues, which are provided by cellular components and the surrounding extracellular matrix. Therefore, natural biomaterials currently used in peripheral nerve tissue engineering are selected on the basis that they can act as instructive extracellular microenvironments. Despite emerging knowledge regarding cell-matrix interactions, the exact mechanisms through which these biomaterials alter the behaviour of the host and implanted cells, including neurons, Schwann cells and immune cells, remain largely unclear.

Pyr1-Mediated Pharmacological Inhibition of LIM Kinase Restores Synaptic Plasticity and Normal Behavior in a Mouse Model of Schizophrenia.

The search for effective treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders is ongoing, with progress being made as brain structure and neuronal function become clearer. The central roles played by microtubules (MT) and actin in synaptic transmission and plasticity suggest that the cytoskeleton and its modulators could be relevant targets for the development of new molecules to treat psychiatric diseases. In this context, LIM Kinase - which regulates both the actin and MT cytoskeleton especially in dendritic spines, the post-synaptic compartment of the synapse - might be a good target.

Engineered Tissues Made from Human iPSC-Derived Schwann Cells for Investigating Peripheral Nerve Regeneration In Vitro.

Peripheral nerves have a limited ability to regenerate and current clinical approaches involving microsurgery give suboptimal recovery. Engineered tissues using aligned cellular collagen hydrogels can be used as in vitro models through the incorporation of human Schwann cells. However, primary human Schwann cells are difficult to obtain and can be challenging to culture.

Promoting and Protecting Human Milk and Breastfeeding in a COVID-19 World.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous stress on healthcare systems and hospital staffing. However, through all this, families will continue to become pregnant, give birth, and breastfeed. Unfortunately, care of the childbearing family has been de-prioritized during the pandemic.

Strategies for Peripheral Nerve Repair.

Purpose Of Review: This review focuses on biomechanical and cellular considerations required for development of biomaterials and engineered tissues suitable for implantation following PNI, as well as translational requirements relating to outcome measurements for testing success in patients.

Recent Findings: Therapies that incorporate multiple aspects of the regenerative environment are likely to be key to improving therapies for nerve regeneration. This represents a complex challenge when considering the diversity of biological, chemical and mechanical factors involved.