A Computational Approach for Designing and Validating Small Interfering RNA against SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

Aims: The aim of this study is to develop a novel antiviral strategy capable of efficiently targeting a broad set of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Background: Since the first emergence of SARS-CoV-2, it has rapidly transformed into a global pandemic, posing an unprecedented threat to public health. SARS-CoV-2 is prone to mutation and continues to evolve, leading to the emergence of new variants capable of escaping immune protection achieved due to previous SARS-CoV-2 infections or by vaccination.

Animal models to study the neurological manifestations of the post-COVID-19 condition.

More than 40% of individuals infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have experienced persistent or relapsing multi-systemic symptoms months after the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) has debilitating effects on the daily life of patients and encompasses a broad spectrum of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms including olfactory and gustative impairment, difficulty with concentration and short-term memory, sleep disorders and depression. Animal models have been instrumental to understand acute COVID-19 and validate prophylactic and therapeutic interventions.

Journey of technological advancements in the detection of antimicrobial resistance.

Increased uses rather an extensive misuse of antibiotics due to easy availability and easy access have resulted in antibiotic resistance as a global crisis. The speed of discovery of new antibiotics has slowed down recently. Therefore, there is a need to reduce the rate of increase in resistance against the presently available antibiotics, or else many infections may be left untreatable or difficult to be treated due to the high prevalence of resistance.

Antiretroviral Treatment-Induced Galectin-9 Might Impact HIV Viremia in Addition to Contributing to Inflammaging.

Background: Galectin-9 induces HIV reactivation and also contributes to non-AIDS events through inflammaging. Hence, it is important to assess its levels in HIV-infected individuals to determine their association with HIV viremia and other comorbidities.

Methods: Plasma galectin-9 levels were estimated in viremic = 152) and aviremic ( = 395) individuals on first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Issues with the current drugs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis cure and potential of cell envelope proteins for new drug discovery.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been the smartest pathogen ever and a challenge to drug development. Its replicative machinery is unique, so targeting the same for killing the pathogen remains a challenge. Our body typically throws out the drugs before they see the bacterium multiply.

Association of body mass index and bloodstream infections in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a single-centre, retrospective, cohort study.

Background: Obesity is associated with poor clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. However, under some clinical conditions, obesity has protective effects. Bloodstream infections (BSI) are among the most common nosocomial infections associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Augmenting progress on the elimination of vertical transmissions of HIV in India: Insights from Spectrum-based HIV burden estimations.

The government of India has adopted the elimination of vertical transmission of HIV as one of the five high-level goals under phase V of the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP). In this paper, we present the data from HIV estimations 2021 for India and select States detailing the progress as well as the attributable causes for vertical transmissions. The NACP spearheads work on mathematical modelling to estimate HIV burden based on the periodically conducted sentinel surveillance for guiding program implementation and policymaking.

Finding a way forward with the community: qualitative inquiry in the generalized HIV epidemic in Mizoram, India.

Introduction: Mizoram, the northeastern State of India bordering Myanmar, is presently witnessing a burgeoning generalized HIV epidemic along with the highest State-level HIV prevalence among female sex workers (FSWs, 24.7%) and people who inject drugs (PWID,19.8%) in the country.

Withania somnifera extracts induced attenuation of HIV-1: a mechanistic approach to restrict viral infection.

Background: Several anti-retroviral drugs are available against Human immunodeficiency virus type-1, but have multiple adverse side effects. Hence, there is an incessant compulsion for effectual anti-retroviral agents with minimal or no intricacy. Traditionally, natural products have been the most successful source for the development of new medications.

Africa-specific human genetic variation near CHD1L associates with HIV-1 load.

HIV-1 remains a global health crisis, highlighting the need to identify new targets for therapies. Here, given the disproportionate HIV-1 burden and marked human genome diversity in Africa, we assessed the genetic determinants of control of set-point viral load in 3,879 people of African ancestries living with HIV-1 participating in the international collaboration for the genomics of HIV. We identify a previously undescribed association signal on chromosome 1 where the peak variant associates with an approximately 0.

Safety and Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Spike Protein Vaccine in Children and Adolescents in India: A Phase 2-3 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The recombinant COVID-19 vaccine NVX-CoV2373 has demonstrated efficacy of approximately 90% in adults; however, its safety and efficacy in children is unknown.

Objective: To assess the noninferiority of SII-NVX-CoV2373 in children and adolescents compared to adults and to evaluate its safety in comparison with placebo.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This phase 2-3 observer-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted in 2 cohorts, children (aged 2 to 11 years) and adolescents (aged 12 to 17 years) between August 2021 and August 2022.

The role of thioredoxin proteins in probed by proteome-wide target profiling.

encounters diverse microenvironments, including oxidative assault (ROS and RNS), when it attempts to establish itself within its human host. Therefore, redox sensory and regulation processes are assumed significant importance, as these are essential processes for to survive under these hostile conditions. contains thioredoxin system to maintain redox homeostasis, which establish a balance between the thiol/dithiol couple.

Cetylpyridinium Chloride-Containing Mouthwashes Show Virucidal Activity against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1.

The oral cavity is particularly susceptible to viral infections that are self-recovering in most cases. However, complications may appear in severe cases and/or immunocompromised subjects. Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)-containing mouthwashes are able to decrease the infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by disrupting the integrity of the viral envelope.

A Review: Understanding Molecular Mechanisms of Antibody-Dependent Enhancement in Viral Infections.

Antibody Dependent Enhancement (ADE) of an infection has been of interest in the investigation of many viruses. It is associated with the severity of the infection. ADE is mediated by non-neutralizing antibodies, antibodies at sub-neutralizing concentrations, or cross-reactive non-neutralizing antibodies.

Preclinical evaluation of PHH-1V vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 in non-human primates.

SARS-CoV-2 emerged in December 2019 and quickly spread worldwide, continuously striking with an unpredictable evolution. Despite the success in vaccine production and mass vaccination programs, the situation is not still completely controlled, and therefore accessible second-generation vaccines are required to mitigate the pandemic. We previously developed an adjuvanted vaccine candidate coded PHH-1V, based on a heterodimer fusion protein comprising the RBD domain of two SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Immunogenicity and safety in pigs of PHH-1V, a SARS-CoV-2 RBD fusion heterodimer vaccine candidate.

The continuing high global incidence of COVID-19 and the undervaccinated status of billions of persons strongly motivate the development of a new generation of efficacious vaccines. We have developed an adjuvanted vaccine candidate, PHH-1V, based on a protein comprising the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the Beta variant of SARS-CoV-2 fused in tandem with the equivalent domain of the Alpha variant, with its immunogenicity, safety and efficacy previously demonstrated in mouse models. In the present study, we immunized pigs with different doses of PHH-1V in a prime-and-boost scheme showing PHH-1V to exhibit an excellent safety profile in pigs and to produce a solid RBD-specific humoral response with neutralising antibodies to 7 distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, with the induction of a significant IFNγ T-cell response.

Understanding the neurological implications of acute and long COVID using brain organoids.

As early as in the acute phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the research community voiced concerns about the long-term implications of infection. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), like many other viruses, can trigger chronic disorders that last months or even years. Long COVID, the chronic and persistent disorder lasting more than 12 weeks after the primary infection with SARS-CoV-2, involves a variable number of neurological manifestations, ranging from mild to severe and even fatal.

Economic Burden of Cancer for the First Five Years after Cancer Diagnosis in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Korea.

This study aimed to estimate the medical cost of cancer in the first five years of diagnosis and in the final six months before death in people who developed cancer after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Korea. The study utilized the Korea National Health Insurance Service-National Health Information Database (NHIS-NHID). Among 16,671 patients diagnosed with HIV infection from 2004 to 2020 in Korea, we identified 757 patients newly diagnosed with cancer after HIV diagnosis.

Effectiveness and safety of integrase strand transfer inhibitors in Spain: a prospective real-world study.

Introduction: Second-generation integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are preferred treatment options worldwide, and dolutegravir (DTG) is the treatment of choice in resource-limited settings. Nevertheless, in some resource-limited settings, these drugs are not always available. An analysis of the experience with the use of INSTIs in unselected adults living with HIV may be of help to make therapeutic decisions when second-generation INSTIs are not available.

Revisiting the therapeutic potential of homeopathic medicine Rhus Tox for herpes simplex virus and inflammatory conditions.

Background: Herpes simplex virus type-1 and type-2 cause a viral disease named Herpes. Genital herpes is mainly caused by HSV-2 with symptoms of painful and itchy blisters on the vagina, cervix, buttocks, anus, penis, or inner thighs with blisters that rupture and convert into sores. The homeopathic remedy Rhus Tox has been widely used to treat herpes and has shown invitro anti-inflammatory effects in previous studies.

Impact of Obefazimod on Viral Persistence, Inflammation, and Immune Activation in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy.

Background: Persistence of viral reservoirs has been observed in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), despite long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART), and likely contributes to chronic immune activation and inflammation. Obefazimod is a novel drug that inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication and reduces inflammation. Here we assess whether obefazimod is safe and might impact HIV-1 persistence, chronic immune activation, and inflammation in ART-suppressed people with HIV.