A cell-based ELISA as surrogate of virus neutralization assay for RBD SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies.

SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, has provoked a global crisis and death of millions of people. Several serological assays to determine the quality of the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 and the efficacy of vaccines have been developed, among them the gold standard conventional virus neutralization assays. However, these tests are time consuming, require biosafety level 3 (BSL3), and are low throughput and expensive. This has motivated the development of alternative methods, including molecular inhibition assays. Herein, we present a safe cell-based ELISA-virus neutralization test (cbE-VNT) as a surrogate for the conventional viral neutralization assays that detects the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 RBD binding to ACE2-bearing cells independently of species. Our test shows a very good correlation with the conventional and molecular neutralization assays and achieves 100% specificity and 95% sensitivity. cbE-VNT is cost-effective, fast and enables a large-scale serological evaluation that can be performed in a BSL2 laboratory, allowing its use in pre-clinical and clinical investigations.

Prevalencia de caries en una población adulta venezolana / Prevalence of dental cavities in an adult Venezuelan population

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 150 venezolanos de 19-34 años, de ambos sexos y subdivididos en 4 subgrupos, que acudieron desde julio de 2004 hasta septiembre de 2005 al Consultorio Odontológico Bolívar del municipio Irribaren, en el estado de Lara, por presentar caries. Entre los resultados sobresalieron el predominio de las féminas en la población atendida, el alto índice de caries (sobre todo del componente cariado) y el hallazgo de alrededor de 8 piezas dentarias dañadas por paciente, lo cual evidenció que era preciso trazar estrategias sanitarias en la comunidad para mejorar los indicadores de salud bucal y encontrar alternativas para prevenir la aparición de esa odontopatía en los habitantes del área.

A descriptive and cross-sectional study of 150 Venezuelan of 19-34 years old on both sexes and subdivided into 4 subgroups, that attended from July 2004 to September 2005 to the Odontologic Doctor's office Bolivar in the Irribaren municipality, in the state of Lara was carried out for presenting dental cavities. The most significant aspect among the general results was the predominance of females in the population that was assisted, the high rate of dental cavities (mainly from the component with cavities), and the finding of around 8 damaged tooth per patients, which was further evidence for setting a sanitary strategy in the community to improve the buccal health indicators and find alternatives to prevent this odontopathy in the locals.

Epidemiología de la caries dental en niños de 6-12 años en la Clínica Odontológica La Democracia / Epidemiology of dental caries in 6-12 years children from

Se hizo un estudio descriptivo y transversal sobre aspectos epidemiológicos de las caries dentales en 140 pacientes de 6 - 12 años (20 de cada edad incluida dentro de esos límites) en la Clínica Odontológica de Barrio Adentro La Democracia, municipio Páez (estado de Portuguesa) de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela durante el primer semestre del 2006. Se halló que la elevada prevalencia de dientes permanentes cariados (73,0 por ciento) podía explicarse por la existencia de estilos de vida inadecuados, bajos ingresos económicos, dieta cariogénica, deficiente higiene bucal y antecedentes de caries dental, entre otros factores.

A descriptive and cross sectional study was carried out on the epidemiologic aspects of dental caries in 140 patients of 6 - 12 years (20 of each age included within those limits) in Barrio Adentro La Democracia Dentistry Clinic, Páez municipality (Portuguesa state) at the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela during the first semester of 2006. It was found that the high prevalence of decayed permanent teeth (73,0 percent) could be explained by the existence of inadequate lifestyles, low economic incomes, cariogenic diet, poor oral hygiene and history of dental decay, among other factors.