Detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 salivary antibodies in vaccinated adults.

Since the introduction of efficient anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, the detection of antibodies becomes useful for immunological monitoring and COVID-19 control. Therefore, this longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the serum and saliva of COVID-19-vaccinated adults. The study included 13 not vaccinated and 35 vaccinated participants with two doses of CoronaVac (Sinovac/Butantan) vaccine who subsequently received BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine as a booster dose. Vaccinated participants donated saliva and serum in three different time points. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for antibody detection. In our results, the serum neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were detected in 34/35 samples after second dose and in 35/35 samples one and five months after the booster dose. In saliva, NAb were detected in 30/35 samples after second dose and in 35/35 of samples one and five months after the booster dose. IgA was detected in 19/34 saliva samples after second dose, in 18/35 one month after the booster and in 30/35 five months after. IgG in saliva was detected in 1/34 samples after second dose, 33/35 samples one month after the booster dose and in 20/35 five months after. A strong correlation was found between IgG and neutralizing activity in saliva, and salivary IgA would be a sign of recent exposure to the virus. In conclusion, saliva can be suitable for monitoring antibodies anti-SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination. Heterologous vaccination contributed to increase anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the Brazilian health context. Complementary studies with large groups are mandatory to conclude the interest in following mucosal immunity.

Saliva is suitable for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies detection after vaccination: A rapid systematic review.

Since the introduction of efficient vaccines anti-SARS-CoV-2, antibody quantification becomes increasingly useful for immunological monitoring and COVID-19 control. In several situations, saliva samples may be an alternative to the serological test. Thus, this rapid systematic review aimed to evaluate if saliva is suitable for SARS-CoV-2 detection after vaccination. For this purpose, search strategies were applied at EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science. Studies were selected by two reviewers in a two-phase process. After selection, 15 studies were eligible and included in data synthesis. In total, salivary samples of approximately 1,080 vaccinated and/or convalescent individuals were analyzed. The applied vaccines were mostly mRNA-based (BioNTech 162b2 mRNA/Pfizer and Spikevax mRNA-1273/Moderna), but recombinant viral-vectored vaccines (Ad26. COV2. S Janssen - Johnson & Johnson and Vaxzevria/Oxford AstraZeneca) were also included. Different techniques were applied for saliva evaluation, such as ELISA assay, Multiplex immunoassay, flow cytometry, neutralizing and electrochemical assays. Although antibody titers are lower in saliva than in serum, the results showed that saliva is suitable for antibody detection. The mean of reported correlations for titers in saliva and serum/plasma were moderate for IgG (0.55, 95% CI 0.38-9.73), and weak for IgA (0.28, 95% CI 0.12-0.44). Additionally, six out of nine studies reported numerical titers for immunoglobulins detection, from which the level in saliva reached their reference value in four (66%). IgG but not IgA are frequently presented in saliva from vaccinated anti-COVID-19. Four studies reported lower IgA salivary titers in vaccinated compared to previously infected individuals, otherwise, two reported higher titers of IgA in vaccinated. Concerning IgG, two studies reported high antibody titers in the saliva of vaccinated individuals compared to those previously infected and one presented similar results for vaccinated and infected. The detection of antibodies anti-SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva is available, which suggests this type of sample is a suitable alternative for monitoring the population. Thus, the results also pointed out the possible lack of mucosal immunity induction after anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. It highlights the importance of new vaccination strategies also focused on mucosal alternatives directly on primary routes of SARS-CoV-2 entrance. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022336968, identifier CRD42022336968.

Análise da rugosidade superficial de uma resina composta tratada com gel fluoretado em diferentes pH / Surface roughness analysis of a composite treated with fluoridated gel at different pH

Objetivo: O flúor acidulado é utilizado no controle da doença cárie, mas seus efeitos na superfície de resinas compostas são controversos. O objetivo do estudo é avaliar a rugosidade superficial de uma resina composta após a aplicação tópica de flúor in vitro. Métodos: Espécimes de resina Vittra (FGM) foram preparados (8mmx1mm) e polidos. Após avaliação do pH de produtos fluoretados, o de maior e menor pH foram selecionados para os ex-perimentos. Foram testados três grupos experimentais (n = 15): grupo 1 ­ flúor gel acidulado a 1,23% (Nova DFL) (menor pH:4,48±0,32), grupo 2 ­ flúor gel neutro a 2% (Nova DFL) (maior pH:7,03±0,40), grupo 3 ­ sem exposi-ção ao flúor (controle negativo). O experimento simulou o protocolo padrão clínico de aplicação de flúor (uma aplicação por semana, durante um minuto, por quatro semanas). A rugosidade superficial foi mensurada antes e após o tratamento através de microscopia confocal e a característica superficial avaliada por imagens reconstru-ídas. Foi realizado teste ANOVA (post-hoc de Bonferroni) para comparar médias da rugosidade superficial entre grupos. Resultados: O grupo exposto ao flúor gel acidu-lado apresentou os maiores valores de rugosidade (Ra: 0,29±0,08), sendo maior que o grupo exposto ao gel neutro (Ra: 0,21±0,08) e controle (Ra: 0,23±0,05) (p < 0,05), que não apresentaram diferença estatística entre si. Conclusão: O grupo exposto ao flúor acidulado mostrou rugosidade superficial maior que o controle, porém essa diferença pode ser clinicamente irrelevante. Novos estudos são necessários para avaliar se tal alteração aumenta a adesão bacteriana e se a resina deve ser polida após aplicações tópicas de flúor.

Aim: Acidulated fluoride is widely used to control dental caries, however, its effects on composites surfaces are controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the surface roughness of a composite af-ter a fluoride topical application in vitro. Methods: Vittra (FGM) composite specimens were made (8mmx1mm) and polished. After pH evaluation of fluoridated products, the ones with the highest and lowest pH were selected for the experiments. Three experimental groups (n = 15) were tested: group 1 - 1.23% acidulated fluoride gel (Nova DFL) (pH: 4.48±0.32), group 2 - 2% neutral fluoride gel (Nova DFL) (pH: 7.03±0.40), group 3 - no fluoride exposure (negative control). The experiment simulated the standard clinical fluoride application protocol (one application of one minute per week,in four weeks). Surface roughness was measured before and after treatment by confocal microscopy and the surface characteristic evaluated by reconstructed images. ANOVA (Bonferroni post-hoc) test was performed to compare means of surface roughness between groups. Results: The group exposed to acidulated fluoride gel presented the highest values of roughness (Ra: 0.29±0.08), being larger than the group exposed to neutral fluoride gel (Ra: 0.21±0.08) and control (Ra: 0.23±0.05) (p < 0.05), which showed no statistical difference between them. Conclusion: It was concluded that the group exposed to acidula-ted fluoride showed greater surface roughness than the control group, but this difference appears to be clinically irrelevant. Further studies are needed to assess whether this change increases bacterial adhesion and whether the resin should be polished after topical fluoride applications.