Formation of Olive-like TiO2 Nanospheres in a Polymeric Mesh by Sol-Gel Method.

Olive-like TiO2 (titanium dioxide), nanospheres compounds were synthesized. Polysaccharide (1-3 linked ß-D galactapyranose and 1.4-linked 3.6 anyhdro-α-L-galactopyranose and titanium isopropoxide (IV) was used as a precursor in its formation. The powder sample was evaluated by scanning tunneling microscope, X-ray diffraction pattern, power spectral density, fast Fourier transform, differential thermal analysis, continuous wavelet transform, and isotropy texture analysis. The results demonstrate that these nanospheres can successfully be synthesized in a solution using a polysaccharide network by means of the sol-gel method. The synthesized olive-like TiO2 nanospheres have diameters ranging from 50 nm to 500 nm. The synthesis parameters, such as temperature, time, and concentration of the polysaccharide, were controlled in solution.

Novel requirements for HAP2/GCS1-mediated gamete fusion in Tetrahymena.

The ancestral gamete fusion protein, HAP2/GCS1, plays an essential role in fertilization in a broad range of taxa. To identify factors that may regulate HAP2/GCS1 activity, we screened mutants of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila for behaviors that mimic Δhap2/gcs1 knockout phenotypes in this species. Using this approach, we identified two new genes, GFU1 and GFU2, whose products are necessary for membrane pore formation following mating type recognition and adherence. GFU2 is predicted to be a single-pass transmembrane protein, while GFU1, though lacking obvious transmembrane domains, has the potential to interact directly with membrane phospholipids in the cytoplasm. Like Tetrahymena HAP2/GCS1, expression of GFU1 is required in both cells of a mating pair for efficient fusion to occur. To explain these bilateral requirements, we propose a model that invokes cooperativity between the fusion machinery on apposed membranes of mating cells and accounts for successful fertilization in Tetrahymena's multiple mating type system.

Reproducibility of pop sensation, Thompson sign in achillotomy, and final Pirani score to predict clubfoot relapse: Achillotomy clinical signs and Pirani predictive ability.

Ultrasound (US) can guide and confirm percutaneous release of the achilles tendon in the clubfoot. However, this technique may not always be available; therefore, surgeons' reported feelings of tendon release ("click" or "pop") and the Thompson sign could demonstrate that they are sensitive and reliable for confirming complete tendon release. The purpose of this study was to compare the reproducibility of clinical maneuvers that aim to detect the reported "click" or "pop" sensation by the surgeon and the Thompson sign after surgical release in percutaneous achilles tenotomy compare with US in patients with clubfoot. A cross-sectional reproducibility study of consecutive patients with idiopathic clubfoot was conducted. All the patients were scheduled to undergo tenotomy in the operating room using the standard percutaneous achilles tenotomy technique under sedation. The surgeon's reported surgical sensation ("click" or "pop") and Thompson signs were compared to the US assessment of the cut. The final Pirani score was used to predict recurrence risk and was correlated with the number of plaster casts and age. Forty-five feet were affected in 30 patients. Eighteen (60%) men. Age range: 1 to 60 months. The sensation of "click" or "pop" was recorded in 38 patients, and complete release was confirmed by US in 37 patients, for a sensitivity (Se) of 0.95 and specificity (Sp) of 0.63. Thompson signs were positive in 33 and 36 patients at 2 evaluations, with Se values of 0.87 and 0.92 and Sp values of 0.88 and 0.75, respectively. The Pirani final score, a predictor of recurrence risk, had an area under the curve of 0.80 (95% CI = 0.63-0.97; P = .005), Se = 0.78, and Sp = 0.56, with a cutoff point of 2.75. The feeling of achilles tendon release and Thompson sign had high sensitivity, prevalence, accuracy, and posttest probability. The confirmation of tendon release based on clinical signs could prevent the use of US.

Antibody inhibition of measles virus entry.

An intermediate virus-cell fusion step is revealed by an antibody with therapeutic potential.

Migraine inhibitor olcegepant reduces weight loss and IL-6 release in SARS-CoV-2-infected older mice with neurological signs.

COVID-19 can cause neurological symptoms such as fever, dizziness, and nausea. However, such neurological symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been hardly assessed in mouse models. In this study, we infected two commonly used wild-type mouse lines (C57BL/6J and 129/SvEv) and a 129S calcitonin gene-related peptide (αCGRP) null-line with mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 and demonstrated neurological signs including fever, dizziness, and nausea. We then evaluated whether a CGRP receptor antagonist, olcegepant, a "gepant" antagonist used in migraine treatment, could mitigate acute neuroinflammatory and neurological signs of SARS-COV-2 infection. First, we determined whether CGRP receptor antagonism provided protection from permanent weight loss in older (>18 m) C57BL/6J and 129/SvEv mice. We also observed acute fever, dizziness, and nausea in all older mice, regardless of treatment. In both wild-type mouse lines, CGRP antagonism reduced acute interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels with virtually no IL-6 release in mice lacking αCGRP. These findings suggest that migraine inhibitors such as those blocking CGRP receptor signaling protect against acute IL-6 release and subsequent inflammatory events after SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may have repercussions for related pandemic or endemic coronavirus outbreaks.IMPORTANCECoronavirus disease (COVID-19) can cause neurological symptoms such as fever, headache, dizziness, and nausea. However, such neurological symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have been hardly assessed in mouse models. In this study, we first infected two commonly used wild-type mouse lines (C57BL/6J and 129S) with mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 and demonstrated neurological symptoms including fever and nausea. Furthermore, we showed that the migraine treatment drug olcegepant could reduce long-term weight loss and IL-6 release associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings suggest that a migraine blocker can be protective for at least some acute SARS-CoV-2 infection signs and raise the possibility that it may also impact long-term outcomes.

Adaptive immune cells are necessary for SARS-CoV-2-induced pathology.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is causing the ongoing global pandemic associated with morbidity and mortality in humans. Although disease severity correlates with immune dysregulation, the cellular mechanisms of inflammation and pathogenesis of COVID-19 remain relatively poorly understood. Here, we used mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain MA10 to investigate the role of adaptive immune cells in disease. We found that while infected wild-type mice lost ~10% weight by 3 to 4 days postinfection, rag-/- mice lacking B and T lymphocytes did not lose weight. Infected lungs at peak weight loss revealed lower pathology scores, fewer neutrophils, and lower interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in rag-/- mice. Mice lacking αß T cells also had less severe weight loss, but adoptive transfer of T and B cells into rag-/- mice did not significantly change the response. Collectively, these findings suggest that while adaptive immune cells are important for clearing SARS-CoV-2 infection, this comes at the expense of increased inflammation and pathology.

Migraine inhibitor olcegepant reduces weight loss and IL-6 release in SARS-CoV-2 infected older mice with neurological signs.

COVID-19 can result in neurological symptoms such as fever, headache, dizziness, and nausea. However, neurological signs of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been hardly assessed in mouse models. Here, we infected two commonly used wildtype mice lines (C57BL/6 and 129S) with mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 and demonstrated neurological signs including motion-related dizziness. We then evaluated whether the Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist, olcegepant, used in migraine treatment could mitigate acute neuroinflammatory and neurological responses to SARS-COV-2 infection. We infected wildtype C57BL/6J and 129/SvEv mice, and a 129 αCGRP-null mouse line with a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 virus, and evaluated the effect of CGRP receptor antagonism on the outcome of that infection. First, we determined that CGRP receptor antagonism provided protection from permanent weight loss in older (>12 m) C57BL/6J and 129 SvEv mice. We also observed acute fever and motion-induced dizziness in all older mice, regardless of treatment. However, in both wildtype mouse lines, CGRP antagonism reduced acute interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels by half, with virtually no IL-6 release in mice lacking αCGRP. These findings suggest that migraine inhibitors such as those blocking CGRP signaling protect against acute IL-6 release and subsequent inflammatory events after SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may have repercussions for related pandemic and/or endemic coronaviruses.

Risk of positive screening for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and night eating syndrome and associated risk factors in medical fellows in Northeastern Mexico: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders and food ingestion (EDs) are serious mental illnesses with a higher prevalence in young adults, with difficult diagnoses that cause serious morbidity and mortality problems. There is not much information about the risk of positive screening for EDs, specifically, anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and night eating syndrome (NES) in undergraduate medical interns (UMI) and medical residents (MR) in Mexico. AIM: To determine the risk of AN, BN and NES and to determine the risk factors of such conditions such as age, body mass index (BMI) and gender of MR and UMI with AN/BN and NES at four private hospitals in northeastern Mexico. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive, non-randomized survey in MR and UMI in four hospitals in Northeastern Mexico was conducted using an electronic questionnaire that included: informed consent signature, SCOFF questionnaire for AN and BN screening, NES questionnaire. Also, a survey on general sociodemographic data of each participant was included. Chi-square test and a logistic regression model were computed for analyses. RESULTS: The population included a total of 129 MR and UMI. It was observed that 48.8% were positive for AN or BN and 32.6% were positive for the NES. There was no difference between age, sex, BMI, or medical specialty (if they were MR); however, MR from the first year had a higher risk of AN or BN (OR 23.7, 95% CI 1.181-475.266). CONCLUSIONS: There was a higher risk of positive screening for AN or BN and NES in UMI and MR in our population. In the case of MR, those in first year have a higher risk of AN and BN. Timely diagnosis and treatment are mandatory in this population.

Eating disorders and food ingestion such as anorexia (AN) or bulimia (BN) nervosa and night eating syndrome (NES) are a group of mental illnesses that are frequently under diagnosed. Medical residents (MR) and undergraduate medical interns (UMI) are a high-risk population for such disorders due to their young age, stress environments, erratic eating patterns and long working hours. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of AN, BN and NES and to determine the risk factors of such conditions. One hundred twenty-nine UMI and MR were studied and showed that 48.8% were positive for AN or BN and 32.6% were positive for NES. MR in the first year of medical residency had a higher risk. Timely diagnosis and treatment are mandatory in this population.

Pathogenicity and virulence of henipaviruses.

Paramyxoviruses are a family of single-stranded negative-sense RNA viruses, many of which are responsible for a range of respiratory and neurological diseases in humans and animals. Among the most notable are the henipaviruses, which include the deadly Nipah (NiV) and Hendra (HeV) viruses, the causative agents of outbreaks of severe disease and high case fatality rates in humans and animals. NiV and HeV are maintained in fruit bat reservoirs primarily in the family Pteropus and spillover into humans directly or by an intermediate amplifying host such as swine or horses. Recently, non-chiropteran associated Langya (LayV), Gamak (GAKV), and Mojiang (MojV) viruses have been discovered with confirmed or suspected ability to cause disease in humans or animals. These viruses are less genetically related to HeV and NiV yet share many features with their better-known counterparts. Recent advances in surveillance of wild animal reservoir viruses have revealed a high number of henipaviral genome sequences distributed across most continents, and mammalian orders previously unknown to harbour henipaviruses. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the range of pathogenesis observed for the henipaviruses as well as their replication cycle, epidemiology, genomics, and host responses. We focus on the most pathogenic viruses, including NiV, HeV, LayV, and GAKV, as well as the experimentally non-pathogenic CedV. We also highlight the emerging threats posed by these and potentially other closely related viruses.

Vertebral coccidioidomycosis with mechanical instability treated solely with antifungals: A case report.

Surgical treatment of vertebral coccidioidomycosis presents a challenge, with an unpredictable course and uncertain results. We present a 52-year-old man with disseminated infection due to coccidioidomycosis in the thoracolumbar spine, with vertebral instability, and deferral surgical treatment due to SARS-CoV-2 contingency. Treatment with itraconazole was initiated, followed by liposomal amphotericin B and fluconazole due to a relapse. The patient was discharged long-term with voriconazole. The axial pain improved without neurological deficits. Surgical treatment was not required. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Age-dependent acquisition of pathogenicity by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5.

Pathology studies of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants of concern (VOC) are challenged by the lack of pathogenic animal models. While Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 replicate in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice, they cause minimal to negligible morbidity and mortality, and less is known about more recent Omicron VOC. Here, we show that in contrast to Omicron BA.1, BA.5-infected mice exhibited high levels of morbidity and mortality, correlating with higher early viral loads. Neither Omicron BA.1 nor BA.5 replicated in brains, unlike most prior VOC. Only Omicron BA.5-infected mice exhibited substantial weight loss, high pathology scores in lungs, and high levels of inflammatory cells and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and 5- to 8-month-old mice exhibited 100% fatality. These results identify a rodent model for pathogenesis or antiviral countermeasure studies for circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5. Further, differences in morbidity and mortality between Omicron BA.1 and BA.5 provide a model for understanding viral determinants of pathogenicity.

Cell-Cell Fusion Assays to Study Henipavirus Entry and Evaluate Therapeutics.

Henipaviruses include the deadly zoonotic Nipah (NiV) and Hendra (HeV) paramyxoviruses, which have caused recurring outbreaks in human populations. A hallmark of henipavirus infection is the induction of cell-cell fusion (syncytia), caused by the expression of the attachment (G) and fusion (F) glycoproteins on the surface of infected cells. The interactions of G and F with each other and with receptors on cellular plasma membranes drive both viral entry and syncytia formation and are thus of great interest. While F shares structural and functional homologies with class I fusion proteins of other viruses such as influenza and human immunodeficiency viruses, the intricate interactions between the G and F glycoproteins allow for unique approaches to studying the class I membrane fusion process. This allows us to study cell-cell fusion and viral entry kinetics for BSL-4 pathogens such as NiV and HeV under BSL-2 conditions using recombinant DNA techniques. Here, we present approaches to studying henipavirus-induced membrane fusion for currently identified and emerging henipaviruses, including more traditional syncytia counting-based cell-cell fusion assay and a new heterologous fluorescent dye exchange cell-cell fusion assay.

Characterization of the cellular lipid composition during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic viral diseases continue to significantly impact public health. Of particular interest are enveloped viruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen of COVID-19), which include emerging pathogens of highest concern. Enveloped viruses contain a viral envelope that encapsulates the genetic material and nucleocapsid, providing structural protection and functional bioactivity. The viral envelope is composed of a coordinated network of glycoproteins and lipids. The lipid composition of the envelope consists of lipids preferentially appropriated from host cell membranes. Subsequently, changes to the host cell lipid metabolism and an accounting of what lipids are changed during viral infection provide an opportunity to fingerprint the host cell's response to the infecting virus. To address this issue, we comprehensively characterized the lipid composition of VeroE6-TMPRSS2 cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. Our approach involved using an innovative solid-phase extraction technique to efficiently extract cellular lipids combined with liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. We identified lipid changes in cells exposed to SARS-CoV-2, of which the ceramide to sphingomyelin ratio was most prominent. The identification of a lipid profile (i.e., lipid fingerprint) that is characteristic of cellular SARS-CoV-2 infection lays the foundation for targeting lipid metabolism pathways to further understand how enveloped viruses infect cells, identifying opportunities to aid antiviral and vaccine development.

Real-world data evaluation of PAP responsiveness in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The use of positive airway pressure (PAP) in children is a complex process determined by multiple factors. There are limited data on the response of the pediatric population to PAP therapy at home. The goal of the study was to examine real-world responses using PAP home monitoring in children with obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: The study included PAP therapy data for 195 children aged between 1 month and 18 years with obstructive sleep apnea and polysomnogram baseline study. We collected demographics, clinical variables, and polysomnogram parameters in all study participants. The individual response to PAP therapy was calculated comparing the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in the initial polysomnogram with the mean AHI provided by the download of PAP devices. Multivariate models (logistic regression) were used to examine the predictors of positive PAP response defined as a reduction in AHI ≥ 75%. RESULTS: We found excellent responses to PAP therapy in children (median 85% AHI reduction). However, there was substantial heterogeneity in AHI reductions while on PAP therapy. The best PAP responses were linked to more severe obstructive sleep apnea and higher PAP levels. We also identified that the response to PAP was higher in obese children and lower in males. The best predictive model for individual PAP response was biological sex, obesity, and obstructive AHI ≥ 20 events/h (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.791). CONCLUSIONS: Real-world data show that PAP is overall an effective therapy in children but the response is heterogeneous. Obstructive sleep apnea parameters and individual factors can be used to predict individual AHI reductions while on PAP and optimize PAP responses at home. CITATION: Aguilar H, Kahanowitch R, Weiss M, et al. Real-world data evaluation of PAP responsiveness in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(7):1313-1319.

Developmental changes in obstructive sleep apnea and sleep architecture in Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome (DS, also known as Trisomy 21) is a condition associated with abnormal neurodevelopment and a higher risk for sleep apnea. Our study sought to better understand and characterize the age-related developmental differences in sleep architecture and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity in children with DS compared to euploid individuals. METHODS: Retrospective review of polysomnograms in over 4151 infants, children, and adolescents in the pediatric sleep center at Children's National Hospital in Washington D.C. (0-18 years) including 218 individuals with DS. RESULTS: The primary findings of our study are that: (1) severe OSA (obstructive apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 10/h) was more prevalent in the DS group (euploid 18% vs. DS 34%, p < 0.001) with the highest OSA severity being present in young children (<3 years old) and adolescents (>10 years old), (2) abnormalities in sleep architecture in children with DS were characterized by a prolonged rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep onset latency (SOL) (euploid 119 min vs. DS 144 min, p < 0.001) and greater arousal indexes (euploid 10.7/h vs. DS 12.2/h, p < 0.001), (3) developmental changes in the amount of REM sleep or slow wave sleep were not different in DS individuals relative to euploid children, (4) multivariate analyses showed that OSA and REM sleep latency differences between DS and euploid individuals were still present after adjusting by age, biological sex, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Severe OSA is highly prevalent in children with DS and follows an age-dependent "U" distribution with peaks in newborns/infants and children >10 years of age. Children with DS also have disturbances in sleep architecture characterized by a longer REM SOL and elevated arousal indexes. As sleep cycle generation and continuity play crucial roles in neuroplasticity and cognitive development, these findings offer clinically relevant insights to guide anticipatory guidance for infants, children, and adolescents with DS.

Thermophobic Trehalose Glycopolymers as Smart C-Type Lectin Receptor Vaccine Adjuvants.

Herein, this work reports the first synthetic vaccine adjuvants that attenuate potency in response to small, 1-2 °C changes in temperature about their lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Adjuvant additives significantly increase vaccine efficacy. However, adjuvants also cause inflammatory side effects, such as pyrexia, which currently limits their use. To address this, a thermophobic vaccine adjuvant engineered to attenuate potency at temperatures correlating to pyrexia is created. Thermophobic adjuvants are synthesized by combining a rationally designed trehalose glycolipid vaccine adjuvant with thermoresponsive poly-N-isoporpylacrylamide (NIPAM) via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The resulting thermophobic adjuvants exhibit LCSTs near 37 °C, and self-assembled into nanoparticles with temperature-dependent sizes (90-270 nm). Thermophobic adjuvants activate HEK-mMINCLE and other innate immune cell lines as well as primary mouse bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs). Inflammatory cytokine production is attenuated under conditions mimicking pyrexia (above the LCST) relative to homeostasis (37 °C) or below the LCST. This thermophobic behavior correlated with decreased adjuvant Rg is observed by DLS, as well as glycolipid-NIPAM shielding interactions are observed by NOESY-NMR. In vivo, thermophobic adjuvants enhance efficacy of a whole inactivated influenza A/California/04/2009 virus vaccine, by increasing neutralizing antibody titers and CD4+ /44+ /62L+ lung and lymph node central memory T cells, as well as providing better protection from morbidity after viral challenge relative to unadjuvanted control vaccine. Together, these results demonstrate the first adjuvants with potency regulated by temperature. This work envisions that with further investigation, this approach can enhance vaccine efficacy while maintaining safety.

Closed reduction evaluation in dysplastic hip with the Ömeroglu system in children aged 24 to 36 months.

Closed reduction (CR) as an initial treatment for developmental hip dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in children aged 24 to 36 months is debatable; however, it could have better results than open reduction (OR) or osteotomies, because it is minimally invasive. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiological results in children (24-36 months) with DDH initially treated with CR. Initial, subsequent, final anteroposterior pelvic radiological records were retrospectively analyzed. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute was used to classify the initial dislocations. To evaluate the final radiological results after CR (initial treatment) or additional treatment (CR failed), the Ömeroglu system was used (6 points excellent, 5 good, 4 fair-plus, 3 fair-minus, and ≤2 poor). The degree of acetabular dysplasia was estimated using the initial acetabular index and the final acetabular index, Buchholz-Ogden classification was used to measure avascular necrosis (AVN). A total of 98 radiological records were eligible, including 53 patients (65 hips). Fifteen hips (23.1%) were redislocated, OR with femoral osteotomy and pelvic osteotomy was the preferred surgical treatment 9 (13.8%). The initial acetabular index versus final acetabular index in total population was (38.9º ± 6.8º) and (31.9º ± 6.8º), respectively (t = 6.5, P < .001). The prevalence of AVN was 40%. Overall AVN in OR, femoral osteotomy and pelvic osteotomy were 73.3% versus CR 30%, P = .003. Unsatisfactory results ≤ 4 points on the Ömeroglu system were observed in hips that required OR with femoral and pelvic osteotomy. Hips with DDH treated with CR initially might had better radiological results than those treated with OR and femoral and pelvic osteotomies. Regular, good, and excellent results, ≥4 points on the Ömeroglu system, could be estimated in 57% of the cases, in whom CR was successful. AVN is frequently observed in hips with failed CR.

Cell-autonomous requirement for ACE2 across organs in lethal mouse SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the cell-surface receptor for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While its central role in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathogenesis is indisputable, there remains significant debate regarding the role of this transmembrane carboxypeptidase in the disease course. These include the role of soluble versus membrane-bound ACE2, as well as ACE2-independent mechanisms that may contribute to viral spread. Testing these roles requires in vivo models. Here, we report humanized ACE2-floxed mice in which hACE2 is expressed from the mouse Ace2 locus in a manner that confers lethal disease and permits cell-specific, Cre-mediated loss of function, and LSL-hACE2 mice in which hACE2 is expressed from the Rosa26 locus enabling cell-specific, Cre-mediated gain of function. Following exposure to SARS-CoV-2, hACE2-floxed mice experienced lethal cachexia, pulmonary infiltrates, intravascular thrombosis and hypoxemia-hallmarks of severe COVID-19. Cre-mediated loss and gain of hACE2 demonstrate that neuronal infection confers lethal cachexia, hypoxemia, and respiratory failure in the absence of lung epithelial infection. In this series of genetic experiments, we demonstrate that ACE2 is absolutely and cell-autonomously required for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the olfactory epithelium, brain, and lung across diverse cell types. Therapies inhibiting or blocking ACE2 at these different sites are likely to be an effective strategy towards preventing severe COVID-19.

The Human Gut Virome and Its Relationship with Nontransmissible Chronic Diseases.

The human gastrointestinal tract contains large communities of microorganisms that are in constant interaction with the host, playing an essential role in the regulation of several metabolic processes. Among the gut microbial communities, the gut bacteriome has been most widely studied in recent decades. However, in recent years, there has been increasing interest in studying the influences that other microbial groups can exert on the host. Among them, the gut virome is attracting great interest because viruses can interact with the host immune system and metabolic functions; this is also the case for phages, which interact with the bacterial microbiota. The antecedents of virome-rectification-based therapies among various diseases were also investigated. In the near future, stool metagenomic investigation should include the identification of bacteria and phages, as well as their correlation networks, to better understand gut microbiota activity in metabolic disease progression.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike triggers barrier dysfunction and vascular leak via integrins and TGF-ß signaling.

Severe COVID-19 is associated with epithelial and endothelial barrier dysfunction within the lung as well as in distal organs. While it is appreciated that an exaggerated inflammatory response is associated with barrier dysfunction, the triggers of vascular leak are unclear. Here, we report that cell-intrinsic interactions between the Spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and epithelial/endothelial cells are sufficient to induce barrier dysfunction in vitro and vascular leak in vivo, independently of viral replication and the ACE2 receptor. We identify an S-triggered transcriptional response associated with extracellular matrix reorganization and TGF-ß signaling. Using genetic knockouts and specific inhibitors, we demonstrate that glycosaminoglycans, integrins, and the TGF-ß signaling axis are required for S-mediated barrier dysfunction. Notably, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused leak in vivo, which was reduced by inhibiting integrins. Our findings offer mechanistic insight into SARS-CoV-2-triggered vascular leak, providing a starting point for development of therapies targeting COVID-19.