Interim safety and immunogenicity results from an NDV-based COVID-19 vaccine phase I trial in Mexico.

There is still a need for safe, efficient, and low-cost coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines that can stop transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here we evaluated a vaccine candidate based on a live recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) that expresses a stable version of the spike protein in infected cells as well as on the surface of the viral particle (AVX/COVID-12-HEXAPRO, also known as NDV-HXP-S). This vaccine candidate can be grown in embryonated eggs at a low cost, similar to influenza virus vaccines, and it can also be administered intranasally, potentially to induce mucosal immunity.

Knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and COVID-19 hesitancy in a large public university in Mexico city during the early vaccination rollout.

Background: Vaccination against COVID-19 is a primary tool for controlling the pandemic. However, the spread of vaccine hesitancy constitutes a significant threat to reverse progress in preventing the disease. Studies conducted in Mexico have revealed that vaccination intention in Mexico among the general population ranges from 62 to 82%.

Safety and immunogenicity of a live recombinant Newcastle disease virus-based COVID-19 vaccine (Patria) administered via the intramuscular or intranasal route: Interim results of a non-randomized open label phase I trial in Mexico.

There is still a need for safe, efficient and low-cost coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines that can stop transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here we evaluated a vaccine candidate based on a live recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) that expresses a stable version of the spike protein in infected cells as well as on the surface of the viral particle (AVX/COVID-12-HEXAPRO, also known as NDV-HXP-S). This vaccine candidate can be grown in embryonated eggs at low cost similar to influenza virus vaccines and it can also be administered intranasally, potentially to induce mucosal immunity.

Sofosbuvir as a potential alternative to treat the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic.

As of today, there is no antiviral for the treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the development of a vaccine might take several months or even years. The structural superposition of the hepatitis C virus polymerase bound to sofosbuvir, a nucleoside analog antiviral approved for hepatitis C virus infections, with the SARS-CoV polymerase shows that the residues that bind to the drug are present in the latter. Moreover, a multiple alignment of several SARS-CoV-2, SARS and MERS-related coronaviruses polymerases shows that these residues are conserved in all these viruses, opening the possibility to use sofosbuvir against these highly infectious pathogens.

A yellow flag on the horizon: The looming threat of yellow fever to North America.

Yellow fever virus historically was a frequent threat to American and European coasts. Medical milestones such as the discovery of mosquitoes as vectors and subsequently an effective vaccine significantly reduced its incidence, in spite of which, thousands of cases of this deathly disease still occur regularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Amazonian basin in South America, which are usually not reported. An urban outbreak in Angola, consecutive years of increasing incidence near major Brazilian cities, and imported cases in China, South America and Europe, have brought this virus back to the global spotlight.

Vaccination Status and Other Preventive Measures in Medical Schools. Big Needs and Opportunities.

Background: Proper immunization and knowledge in infection prevention are key factors in protecting medical students.

Aim Of The Study: To describe the status on vaccination recommended for healthcare workers (HCW) and infection prevention knowledge.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on medical students at clinical years of medical school from a public University in Mexico.

Are RNA Viruses Candidate Agents for the Next Global Pandemic? A Review.

Pathogenic RNA viruses are potentially the most important group involved in zoonotic disease transmission, and they represent a challenge for global disease control. Their biological diversity and rapid adaptive rates have proved to be difficult to overcome and to anticipate by modern medical technology. Also, the anthropogenic change of natural ecosystems and the continuous population growth are driving increased rates of interspecies contacts and the interchange of pathogens that can develop into global pandemics.

Infection Control in Limited Resources Countries: Challenges and Priorities.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this article is to review the current status of health care-related infections (HCRI) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Recent Findings: HCRI in LMIC are being recognized as an important health problem globally. Despite important efforts, complex medical and non-medical problems prevail.

Self-report of gingival problems and periodontitis in indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Chiapas, Mexico.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of self-reported gingival and periodontal conditions and their association with smoking, oral hygiene, indigenous origin, diabetes and location (urban or rural) in indigenous and non-indigenous adults in Chiapas, Mexico.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1,749 persons, ≥20 years of age, living in four rural and four urban marginal localities in Comitán (Chiapas, México). The variables investigated were: age; sex; indigenous origin; oral hygiene; halitosis; chewing ability; gingival conditions; periodontitis; smoking; alcoholism; diabetes; and location.

Corrigendum: A Survey Using the Social Networks Revealed Poor Knowledge on Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.

This article was initially published on the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility with omission of a funding source. The funding source should be added as the following: "Financial support: This work was supported by DGAPA PAPPIT UNAM (IV200315)."

Structural Analysis of Monomeric RNA-Dependent Polymerases: Evolutionary and Therapeutic Implications.

The crystal structures of monomeric RNA-dependent RNA polymerases and reverse transcriptases of more than 20 different viruses are available in the Protein Data Bank. They all share the characteristic right-hand shape of DNA- and RNA polymerases formed by the fingers, palm and thumb subdomains, and, in many cases, "fingertips" that extend from the fingers towards the thumb subdomain, giving the viral enzyme a closed right-hand appearance. Six conserved structural motifs that contain key residues for the proper functioning of the enzyme have been identified in all these RNA-dependent polymerases.

Specific Proteins in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: New Potential Tools.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been isolated from water, soil, air, food, protozoa, plants, animals, and humans. Although most NTM are saprophytes, approximately one-third of NTM have been associated with human diseases. In this study, we did a comparative proteomic analysis among five NTM strains isolated from several sources.

Social Determinants and Their Impact on Visual Impairment in Southern Mexico.

Purpose: Visual impairment in disadvantaged populations in Mexico has been scarcely reported. We compared the prevalence of visual impairment and its associated risk factors in populations in rural compared to urban areas of the Mexican southern state of Chiapas.

Methods: In a population-based study, the prevalence of visual impairment in rural and urban areas of Comitan, Chiapas, was estimated.

Low complexity regions (LCRs) contribute to the hypervariability of the HIV-1 gp120 protein.

Low complexity regions (LCRs) are sequences of nucleic acids or proteins defined by a compositional bias. Their occurrence has been confirmed in sequences of the three cellular lineages (Bacteria, Archaea and Eucarya), and has also been reported in viral genomes. We present here the results of a detailed computer analysis of the LCRs present in the HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 (gp120) encoded by the viral gene env.

Genomic and proteomic analyses of Mycobacterium bovis BCG Mexico 1931 reveal a diverse immunogenic repertoire against tuberculosis infection.

Background: Studies of Mycobacterium bovis BCG strains used in different countries and vaccination programs show clear variations in the genomes and immune protective properties of BCG strains. The aim of this study was to characterise the genomic and immune proteomic profile of the BCG 1931 strain used in Mexico.

Results: BCG Mexico 1931 has a circular chromosome of 4,350,386 bp with a G+C content and numbers of genes and pseudogenes similar to those of BCG Tokyo and BCG Pasteur.

Weight gain and metabolic complications in preterm infants with nutritional support.

Objective: To analyze the weight gain and to describe the metabolic complications in preterm newborns with nutritional support (NS) and to describe nutritional practices in the first month of hospitalization for 52 preterm newborns.

Material And Methods: Descriptive and prospective study of preterm infants (30-36 gestational weeks), with birth weight > 1 kg, hospital stay > 12 days, without respiratory support or complications, conducted at a public hospital in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico from January to November 2006. Weight, serum glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, gamma-glutamyltransferase, creatinine, urea nitrogen, type of NS (parenteral PN, enteral EN, mixed MN), energy content, and macronutrient intake were measured weekly.

Domestic influenza vaccine production in Mexico: a state-owned and a multinational company working together for public health.

The Mexican Government developed a plan in 2004 for pandemic influenza preparedness that included local production of influenza vaccine. To achieve this, an agreement was concluded between Birmex - a state-owned vaccine manufacturer - and sanofi pasteur, a leading developer of vaccine technology. Under this agreement, sanofi pasteur will establish a facility in Mexico to produce antigen for up to 30 million doses of egg-based seasonal vaccine per year, and Birmex will build a facility to formulate, fill and package the inactivated split-virion influenza vaccine.

[Surgical team satisfaction levels between two preoperative hand-washing methods].

Introduction: Recently, there have been new antiseptics for surgical scrub that do not require brushing. One of them contains 1% chlorhexidine gluconate and 61% ethyl alcohol; within its benefits, it may offer a low potential for skin sensitization, as well as cost savings and less use of water.

Objectives: To evaluate satisfaction levels, washing time, safety, cost and amount of water between the traditional surgical scrub technique (group A) and brush-free surgical scrub procedure (group B).

[Analysis of nosocomial pediatric bacteremias at a general hospital between 1990 and 2006. The impact of attending the intravascular therapy].

Introduction: The administration of parenteral infusates is a frequent intervention that is considered innocuous; moreover, the risk of this procedure which offers a direct access to the bloodstream is minimized.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiology of nosocomial pediatric bacteremias after implementing a control program.

Methods: Analysis of pediatric bacteremias was made in 3 periods: 1) 1990-1992, prior to establishing strategies to avoid contamination of parenteral infusions; 2) 1996, the phase after establishing these strategies; and 3) 2005-2006, the recent situation in the hospital.

Povidone-iodine against sodium hypochlorite as skin antiseptics in volunteers.

Background: This study was conducted to compare the antiseptic efficacy of sodium hypochlorite of electrochemical production with that of povidone-iodine in human voluntaries.

Methods: Three areas of 25 cm(2) each were selected from the forearms; 1 was designated as control to determine the baseline bacterial count; and 2 more were selected to swab 10% povidone-iodine or 10% sodium hypochlorite. Every volunteer was studied on 3 separated occasions.

Elevated prevalence of hepatitis B in Mexican hemodialysis patients. A multicentric survey.

Background And Aims: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients on renal replacement has been reduced in developed countries, but information from developing nations is currently scarce and high prevalence rates are suspected. We undertook this study to analyze the prevalence of HBV infection and identify risk factors associated with it in a sample of Mexican hemodialysis patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in patients on hemodialysis in Mexico.