A Significant Contribution of the Classical Pathway of Complement in SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization of Convalescent and Vaccinee Sera.

Although high titers of neutralizing Abs in human serum are associated with protection from reinfection by SARS-CoV-2, there is considerable heterogeneity in human serum-neutralizing Abs against SARS-CoV-2 during convalescence between individuals. Standard human serum live virus neutralization assays require inactivation of serum/plasma prior to testing. In this study, we report that the SARS-CoV-2 neutralization titers of human convalescent sera were relatively consistent across all disease states except for severe COVID-19, which yielded significantly higher neutralization titers. Furthermore, we show that heat inactivation of human serum significantly lowered neutralization activity in a live virus SARS-CoV-2 neutralization assay. Heat inactivation of human convalescent serum was shown to inactivate complement proteins, and the contribution of complement in SARS-CoV-2 neutralization was often >50% of the neutralizing activity of human sera without heat inactivation and could account for neutralizing activity when standard titers were zero after heat inactivation. This effect was also observed in COVID-19 vaccinees and could be abolished in individuals who were undergoing treatment with therapeutic anti-complement Abs. Complement activity was mainly dependent on the classical pathway with little contributions from mannose-binding lectin and alternative pathways. Our study demonstrates the importance of the complement pathway in significantly increasing viral neutralization activity against SARS-CoV-2 in spike seropositive individuals.

The developmental architecture of the crop of quail embryos (Coturnix coturnix): Morphometric, light and scanning electron microscopy.

The present study focused on the histogenesis of the crop in quail embryos. The developmental sequence was recorded from day 10 of incubation to the hatching day (17th day) by gross anatomy, morphometric analysis and by using light and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Grossly, the crop was distinguished as an enlarged pouch of the cervical oesophagus on the 12th day of incubation. Histologically, the development of the crop began on the 10th day of incubation. The muscularis mucosae was observed as a small, thin layer of myoblast cells on the 10th day, then it appeared as longitudinally arranged smooth muscle fibres with progression of the developmental age till hatching day. The submucosal layer was also observed on the 10th day, while the lamina propria, muscular layer (inner circular and outer longitudinal layers of smooth muscle fibre) and glandular primordia were detected on the 12th day. The epithelial cells of crop revealed affinity for PAS stain and AB-PAS on the 10th day of incubation till the 17th day, while the affinity for AB stain appeared on the 14th day of incubation. Additionally, the glandular cells showed the positive for AB, PAS and AB-PAS on the 12th day of incubation. SEM sections showed variable sizes of the openings of the oesophageal glands. In conclusion, the present study provided a detailed overview of the histogenesis of the crop in quail embryos.

Histopathological effects of the fruit extract of Citrullus colocynthis on the ovary of the tick Hyalomma dromedarii.

Hyalomma dromedarii is the predominant tick species parasitizing camels in Egypt which leads to mortalities in young animals that result in economic losses. It can transmit a lot of pathogens to animals and humans, such as the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, the Dhori virus, Kadam virus, Theileria annulata and spotted fever rickettsia. The continuous use of chemical acaricides has negative impact on the environment and almost led to acaricidal resistance, and hence the plant extracts represent alternative methods for controlling ticks. The present study was carried out to assess the histopathological effects on the ovary of fed female Hyalomma dromedarii following immersion in the ethanolic extract of fruits of Citrullus colocynthis (100 mg/mL). Light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations provided evidence that Citrullus colocynthis caused extensive damage to oocytes. Destruction of the internal organelles of oocytes, along with delay and/or inhibition of vitellogenesis were demonstrated. This is the first histological study that points to damage in H. dromedarii ovaries following treatment with the ethanolic extract of fruits of C. colocynthis. The data presented suggest that the plant extract affects the ovary either directly by entering the oocytes and/or indirectly by damaging the gut cells and digestion of blood that interfere with the development of oocytes, so it can be used as a promising agent for tick control.

Comparison of Omicron breakthrough infection versus monovalent SARS-CoV-2 intramuscular booster reveals differences in mucosal and systemic humoral immunity.

Our understanding of the quality of cellular and humoral immunity conferred by COVID-19 vaccination alone versus vaccination plus SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough (BT) infection remains incomplete. While the current (2023) SARS-CoV-2 immune landscape of Canadians is complex, in late 2021 most Canadians had either just received a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, or had received their two-dose primary series and then experienced an Omicron BT. Herein we took advantage of this coincident timing to contrast cellular and humoral immunity conferred by three doses of vaccine versus two doses plus BT. Our results show thatBT infection induces cell-mediated immune responses to variants comparable to an intramuscular vaccine booster dose. In contrast, BT subjects had higher salivary immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA levels against the Omicron spike and enhanced reactivity to the ancestral spike for the IgA isotype, which also reacted with SARS-CoV-1. Serumneutralizing antibody levels against the ancestral strain and the variants were also higher after BT infection. Our results support the need for the development of intranasal vaccines that could emulate the enhanced mucosal and humoral immunity induced by Omicron BT without exposing individuals to the risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Ameliorative effect of zinc oxide-chitosan conjugates on the anticancer activity of cisplatin: Approach for breast cancer treatment.

Breast cancer is the second most prevalent cancer affecting both males and females, comprising nearly 30 % of all cancer cases. While chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin (Cis), have proven successful in cancer treatment, concerns persist regarding their efficacy and the potentially dangerous side effects. Consequently, there is a crucial and ongoing need to develop approaches that minimize side effects associated with chemotherapy. In the present work, various types of nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and loaded with Cis. Cis was conjugated with nanocarriers such as zinc oxide (ZnO), ZnO modified with mandelic acid and graphene oxide (GO), chitosan (CS), and CS modified with ZnO and GO to enhance the selectivity of Cis towards cancer cells. Zeta potentials and particles size were assessed using electrophoretic light scattering and dynamic light scattering. NPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The impact of standalone Cis as well as its nanoconjugated form on the behavior of MCF-7 cell line was investigated using WST-1 cell proliferation and apoptosis/necrosis assays. Experimental findings revealed that among the various NPs tested, ZnO, and CS NPs exhibited the highest loading percentage of Cis, surpassing the loading percentages achieved with other NPs. Cytotoxicity assay showed the enhanced effect of Cis when conjugated with ZnO and CS NPs. Flow cytometry-based assays and confocal microscopy confirmed that ZnO/Cis and CS/Cis induced apoptosis. The cisplatin-nanocomplex exhibited a descending order of early apoptosis and late apoptosis in the following order: ZnO, Cis, CS, ZnO-M, CS-GO, ZnO-GO, CS-ZnO, and CS-ZnO, Cis, CS, CS-GO, ZnO-M, ZnO, ZnO-GO, respectively. None of the nanoparticle complexes displayed a significant percentage of necrotic cells, with the highest percentage reaching 4.65 % in the case of CS-GO/Cis.

Maca roots: A potential therapeutic in the management of metabolic disorders through the modulation of metabolic biochemical markers in rats fed high-fat high-carbohydrate diet.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Maca root (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) is a Peruvian plant of the Brassicaceae family. Maca roots are popular food supplements used to treat a variety of ailments described traditionally as enhancing metabolic and health conditions. AIM OF THE STUDY: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been the real scourge globally, affecting more than one-fourth of the global population. MetS causes the development of multi-organ illnesses, including altered blood cholesterol and sugar levels, oxidative stress, and hypertension. This study evaluated maca root total methanolic extract (MTE) as a potential nutraceutical to manage the complications of MetS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After the first 4 weeks of a high-fat high-carbohydrate diet (HFCD), streptozotocin (STZ) was injected in Wistar rats to induce the MetS model. Animals were treated orally with MTE at 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg for 4 weeks compared to metformin at 200 mg/kg after confirmation of diabetes. RESULTS: One month of MTE supplementation in HFCD-fed rats remarkably decreased the elevation of blood glucose and lipids, improved liver function and insulin resistance, additionally it successfully restored the state of inflammatory and oxidative stress. The extract was standardized to contain total phenolics equal to 24.45 ± 0.96 µg Gallic acid/mg extract. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that MTE improves MetS by reducing hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress. While also improving beta cell secretory functions, implying that MTE could be used as a balancing drug in the prevention and treatment of metabolic abnormalities linked to type 2 diabetes.

Exploring the synergistic potential of wild nettle and olive oil: bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial properties.

This study delved into the incorporation of wild nettle (Urtica dioica L.) leaves powder with virgin olive oil, exploring its potential to enhance nutritional value and health benefits. The antioxidant, antibacterial, and mineral-enrichment attributes of the resultant nettle-infused olive oil were investigated. Phenolic composition analysis revealed that an optimal maceration time of 30-40 minutes leads to maximal phenolic and flavonoid contents (57.66 mg GAE/100 g and 67.18 mg QE/100 g, respectively). The infused oil demonstrated superior radical scavenging activity (DPPH and ABTS assays) compared to virgin olive oil. Notably, nettle infusion significantly elevates zinc (10.12 mg/kg) and iron (13.85 mg/kg) contents. Antibacterial assays exhibited enhanced inhibition diameters and lower MIC and MBC values for nettle-infused oil against various bacterial strains. The study's findings underscore the potential of nettle infusion to enhance the nutritional and functional attributes of olive oil, holding promise for novel culinary and health applications.

Effects of using collagen and aloe vera grafted fibroin scaffolds on osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in SBF-enriched cell culture medium.

In the study, collagen and aloe vera were grafted onto silk fibroin with two different methods, and 3D-microporous scaffolds (1F5C4A1 and 2F5C4A1) were formed by lyophilization. Three osteogenic cultures were started by seeding rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and pre-induced MSC (osteoblast (OB)) on biopolymeric scaffolds. The osteogenic medium was enriched with 10% (v/v) simulated body fluid (SBF) to promote mineralization and osteogenic differentiation in one of the MSC cultures and the OB culture. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive spectrum (SEM-EDS) analyses on cellular samples and histochemical (alizarin red, safranin-O, alcian blue) and immunohistochemical (anti-collagen-1, anti-osteocalcin, anti-osteopontin) staining showed that bone-like mineralization was occurred by both chemically and cellular activity. In addition, pre-osteogenic induction of MSCs in 2D-cultured was found to promote osteogenesis more rapidly when started 3D-cultured. These results indicated that enrichment of the cell culture medium with SBF is sufficient forin vitromineralization rather than using high concentrations of SBF. The findings showed that OB cells on the 2F5C4A1 scaffold obtained the best osteogenic activity. Still, other culture media with 10% SBF content could be used for bone tissue engineering under osteogenic induction.

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines and their effect on HIV reservoir in older people with HIV.

Older individuals and people with HIV (PWH) were prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination, yet comprehensive studies of the immunogenicity of these vaccines and their effects on HIV reservoirs are not available. Our study on 68 PWH and 23 HIV-negative participants aged 55 and older post-three vaccine doses showed equally strong anti-spike IgG responses in serum and saliva through week 48 from baseline, while PWH salivary IgA responses were low. PWH had diminished live-virus neutralization responses after two vaccine doses, which were 'rescued' post-booster. Spike-specific T cell immunity was enhanced in PWH with normal CD4+ T cell count, suggesting Th1 imprinting. The frequency of detectable HIV viremia increased post-vaccination, but vaccines did not affect the size of the HIV reservoir in most PWH, except those with low-level viremia. Thus, older PWH require three doses of COVID-19 vaccine for maximum protection, while individuals with unsuppressed viremia should be monitored for adverse reactions from HIV reservoirs.

Enhancing antioxidant and antibacterial properties of olive oil through garlic enrichment: a comprehensive study.

The amalgamation of garlic's antibacterial potency with olive oil's nutritional benefits provides a natural, effective way to boost health and counters microbial threats. This study explored the antioxidant and antibacterial traits of garlic-enriched virgin olive oil (VOO) samples, focusing on various garlic forms (fresh, oven-dried, freeze-dried). Comparative analysis revealed fresh garlic's highest total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and strongest DPPH scavenging activity. GC/MS analysis unveiled distinct volatile profiles. Fresh garlic oil contained elevated allyl-methy-sulfide, diallyl-trisulfide, methyl-propyl-disulfide levels. Antibacterial evaluation displayed substantial inhibition zones, especially fresh garlic oil against E. coli, and oven-dried/freeze-dried garlic oils against P. aeruginosa. Lower Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values for fresh garlic oil and freeze-dried garlic oil against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria signify potent antibacterial activity of garlic-enriched VOO. These findings underscore garlic-enriched VOO's potential as natural antibacterial agents, fortified with antioxidant traits, while emphasizing drying methods' role in shaping volatile compounds.

Quality of Edible Sesame Oil as Obtained by Green Solvents: In Silico versus Experimental Screening Approaches.

The present study aimed to investigate the qualitative and quantitative performance of five green solvents, namely 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF), cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), p-cymene, d-limonene and ethanol to substitute n-hexane, for sesame seed oil extraction. In fact, both CPME and MeTHF gave higher crude yields than n-hexane (58.82, 54.91 and 50.84%, respectively). The fatty acid profile of the sesame seed oils remained constant across all the solvent systems, with a predominance of oleic acid (39.27-44.35%) and linoleic acid (38.88-43.99%). The total sterols gained the upmost amount with CPME (785 mg/100 g oil) and MeTHF (641 mg/100 g oil). CPME and MeTHF were also characterized by the optimum content of tocopherols (52.3 and 50.6 mg/100 g oil, respectively). The highest contents of total phenols in the sesame seed oils were extracted by CPME (23.51 mg GAE/g) and MeTHF (22.53 mg GAE/g) as compared to the other solvents, especially n-hexane (8 mg GAE/g). Additionally, sesame seed oils extracted by MeTHF and CPME also had the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as compared to the other green solvents and n-hexane, encouraging their manufacturing use for sesame seed oil extraction.

Hesitancy toward vaccination against COVID-19: A scoping review of prevalence and associated factors in the Arab world.

Despite widespread availability of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), its uptake in many Arab countries is relatively low. This literature review aimed to scope evidence on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (VH) in the Arab world. A total of 134 articles reporting prevalence of COVID-19 VH and associated factors, conducted in any of the 22 Arab League countries, were reviewed. COVID-19 VH prevalence ranged from 5.4% to 83.0%. Female gender, young age, low education level and lack of previous influenza vaccine uptake were most commonly reported to be associated with COVID-19 VH. The most-reported personal concerns contributing toward VH were related to the rapid development, safety and side effects of vaccine, as well as an overall lack of trust in government policies toward pandemic control and widespread conspiracy theories. Tailored interventions to enable the distribution of trusted information and enhance public acceptance of immunization are warranted.

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines and their effect on the HIV reservoir in older people with HIV.

Older individuals and people with HIV (PWH) were prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination, yet comprehensive studies of the immunogenicity of these vaccines and their effects on HIV reservoirs are not available. We followed 68 PWH aged 55 and older and 23 age-matched HIV-negative individuals for 48 weeks from the first vaccine dose, after the total of three doses. All PWH were on antiretroviral therapy (cART) and had different immune status, including immune responders (IR), immune non-responders (INR), and PWH with low-level viremia (LLV). We measured total and neutralizing Ab responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike and RBD in sera, total anti-spike Abs in saliva, frequency of anti-RBD/NTD B cells, changes in frequency of anti-spike, HIV gag/nef-specific T cells, and HIV reservoirs in peripheral CD4 + T cells. The resulting datasets were used to create a mathematical model for within-host immunization. Various regimens of BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and ChAdOx1 vaccines elicited equally strong anti-spike IgG responses in PWH and HIV - participants in serum and saliva at all timepoints. These responses had similar kinetics in both cohorts and peaked at 4 weeks post-booster (third dose), while half-lives of plasma IgG also dramatically increased post-booster in both groups. Salivary spike IgA responses were low, especially in INRs. PWH had diminished live virus neutralizing titers after two vaccine doses which were 'rescued' after a booster. Anti-spike T cell immunity was enhanced in IRs even in comparison to HIV - participants, suggesting Th1 imprinting from HIV, while in INRs it was the lowest. Increased frequency of viral 'blips' in PWH were seen post-vaccination, but vaccines did not affect the size of the intact HIV reservoir in CD4 + T cells in most PWH, except in LLVs. Thus, older PWH require three doses of COVID-19 vaccine to maximize neutralizing responses against SARS-CoV-2, although vaccines may increase HIV reservoirs in PWH with persistent viremia.

Morphology of the soft palate and palatine tonsil of the goat (Capra hyricus).

The present study was carried out to study the morphology of the goat's soft palate and palatine tonsil by gross anatomy, morphometry, light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Twelve heads of normal adult (18-24 months) apparently healthy goats of both sexes were collected from local commercial slaughterhouses in Qena Governorate, Egypt. The oral cavity was dissected, and samples were collected for both light and SEM. The soft palate of the goat formed the caudal continuation of the hard palate. It was relatively short, it extended from the level of the caudal border of the last upper molar tooth to terminate caudally against the base of the epiglottis. The oral mucous membrane of the soft palate was covered by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The lamina propria and submucosa contained connective tissue fibers, diffuse and nodular lymphatic tissue, striated muscle fibers, and a large number of mucous and serous palatine glands. By SEM, the ventral surface had several rounded openings occupied by flower-like structures. These openings represented the entrances to the palatine glands. The palatine tonsil was large and protruded from a fossa in the lateral wall of the oropharynx. It had 2-3 elongated irregular openings that lead to the underlying crypts. These crypts were well-developed and lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The epithelium of the tonsillar crypts directly covered lymphoid tissue and was infiltrated by lymphocytes. Tonsillar glands of pure mucous type were demonstrated. In conclusion, the study provides the basic morphological features of soft palate, as well as the palatine tonsil of the goat by gross observation, light and SEM. The palatine tonsils of goat were well-developed with extensive crypt system, suggesting their essential role in the immunological response against antigens that enter through the oral cavity. The current findings may be useful to understand the role of the palatine tonsil in immunity and disease pathogenesis. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The study reported the basic morphological features of soft palate and palatine tonsil of goat. The ventral surface of the soft palate had several rounded openings occupied by flower-like structures. The palatine tonsils of goat were well-developed with extensive crypt system. The findings might help to understand the role of the palatine tonsil in immunity and disease pathogenesis.

Novel Mutations in MPT64 Secretory Protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). These bacteria secrete various proteins involved in the pathogenesis and persistence of MTBC. Among the secretory proteins, MPT64 (Rv1980C) is highly conserved and is also known as a major culture filtrate that is used in rapid diagnosis of MTBC. In the current study, we aimed to find the mutation in this highly conserved protein in isolates from the Pashtun-dominant province of Pakistan. We analyzed 470 M. tuberculosis whole-genome sequences of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Mutations in the MPT64 gene were screened through TB-Profiler and BioEdit software tools. The DynaMut web server was used to analyze the impact of the mutation on protein dynamics and stability. Among 470 MTB genomes, three non-synonymous mutations were detected in nine isolates, and one synonymous mutation (G208A) was found in four isolates. Mutation G211T (F159L), which was detected at the C-terminal domain of the protein in six isolates, was the most prominent. The second novel mutation, T480C (I70V), was detected in two isolates at the C-terminal side of the protein structure. The third novel mutation, A491C (L66R), was detected in a single isolate at the N-terminal side of the MPT64 protein. The effect of these three mutations was destabilizing on the protein structure. The molecular flexibility of the first two mutations increased, and the last one decreased. MPT64 is a highly conserved secretory protein, harboring only a few mutations. This study provides useful information for better managing the diagnosis of MTB isolates in high TB-burden countries.

Evaluation of anti-Alzheimer activity of Echinacea purpurea extracts in aluminum chloride-induced neurotoxicity in rat model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the neurodegenerative illnesses that impair individual life & increase the demand for caregivers with no available curative medication right now. Therefore, there is a growing concern about employing herbal medicine to limit AD progression & improve patients' life quality, thus potentiating its add-on therapy. In addition, herbs are cost-effective & accessible with nearly no side effects. In the same vein, our study aimed to investigate the potency of Echinacea purpurea (EP) flower extracts to ameliorate the neurodegenerative effect of Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) in a rat model. Moreover, mechanistic studies, including impact on the cholinesterase activity, redox status, inflammatory mediators, behavior performance, glucose level & histopathology, were carried on. Our results showed that 250 mg/kg of Aqueous (AQ) & Alcoholic (AL) extracts of EP inhibited cholinesterase, restored oxidative balance, down-regulated IL-6 & TNF-α cytokines & improved behavior performance in vivo that was reflected in the brain picture by decreasing neuronal degeneration & amyloid plaques in cerebral cortex & hippocampus. The potency of both extracts was compared to reference drugs & AlCl3 positive control group. The AQ extract showed greater potency against COX-1, COX-2 & α-amylase in vitro, while the AL extract was more potent against cholinesterase in vitro, inflammatory cytokines, behavior & pathological improvement in vivo. Conclusively EP overcame AlCl3-induced neurobehavioral toxicity in the rat model via different pathways, which support its regular administration to postpone progressive neural damage in AD patients.

Surgical valvotomy versus balloon dilatation for children with severe aortic valve stenosis: a systematic review.

Aim: To evaluate outcomes of interventions for severe aortic valve stenosis (AS), whether it is done by surgical aortic valvotomy (SAV) or balloon aortic dilatation (BAD). Results: Eleven studies with total number of 1733 patients; 743 patients had SAV, while 990 patients received BAD. There was no significant difference in early mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.96, p = 0.86), late mortality (OR: 1.28, p = 0.25), total mortality (OR: 1.10, p = 0.56), and freedom from aortic valve replacement (OR: 1.00, p = 1.00). Reduction of aortic systolic gradient was significantly higher in the SAV group (OR: 2.24, p = 0.00001), and postprocedural AR rate was lower in SAV group (OR: 0.21, p = 0.00001). Conclusion: SAV is associated with better reduction of aortic systolic gradient and lesser post procedural AR which reduce when compared with BAD.

Congenital aortic valve stenosis is disease in which in which babies are born with narrowing of their aortic valve (the valve leading to main body artery). This study aims to evaluate best outcomes for the two main interventions to treat this disease which are; balloon dilatation (keyhole) and open-heart surgery. Our study results showed that there was no significant difference in mortality between the two treatment strategies; however, there is better immediate results in reliving valve narrowing after and less valve leak after open heart surgery than after key hole procedure. These results remain operator dependent and can differ between centers; therefore, more high-quality studies are encouraged to determine best treatment option for aortic stenosis.

Guardians of the oral and nasopharyngeal galaxy: IgA and protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In early 2020, a global emergency was upon us in the form of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While horrific in its health, social and economic devastation, one silver lining to this crisis has been a rapid mobilization of cross-institute, and even cross-country teams that shared common goals of learning as much as we could as quickly as possible about the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and how the immune system would respond to both the virus and COVID-19 vaccines. Many of these teams were formed by women who quickly realized that the classical model of "publish first at all costs" was maladaptive for the circumstances and needed to be supplanted by a more collaborative solution-focused approach. This review is an example of a collaboration that unfolded in separate countries, first Canada and the United States, and then also Israel. Not only did the collaboration allow us to cross-validate our results using different hands/techniques/samples, but it also took advantage of different vaccine types and schedules that were rolled out in our respective home countries. The result of this collaboration was a new understanding of how mucosal immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection vs COVID-19 vaccination can be measured using saliva as a biofluid, what types of vaccines are best able to induce (limited) mucosal immunity, and what are potential correlates of protection against breakthrough infection. In this review, we will share what we have learned about the mucosal immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and to COVID-19 vaccines and provide a perspective on what may be required for next-generation pan-sarbecoronavirus vaccine approaches.

The potential of wild olive leaves (Olea europaea L. subsp. oleaster) addition as a functional additive in olive oil production: the effects on bioactive and nutraceutical compounds using LC-ESI-QTOF/MS.

This study aims to investigate the influence of traditional maceration upon the enrichment of olive oil with oleaster leaves. The phenolic and tocopherolic compositions of control olive oil and enriched olive oils were determined. The influence of these oil preparation procedures on oil quality indicators was also investigated through spectrophotometric indices and fatty acid profiles. The total contents of bioactive compounds and pigments improved in oils obtained by maceration of fresh wild olive leaves, and were in statistically significant correlation with leaves proportions additions. The obtained results revealed that 15 phenolic compounds belonging to different phenolic types were characterized and quantified by an effective HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS method. In all expected olive oils, the oleuropein aglycon (3,4-DHPEA-EA), and ligstroside aglycon (p-HPEAEA) derivatives were the most abundant compounds. Similarly, to phenolic compounds, tocopherols strongly increased with leaves addition during maceration process. The data obtained from this study suggested that the addition of olive leaf to oils allowed more functional olive oils with higher antioxidant contents. Thus, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) extracted with 10% of olive leaves presented the highest amount of phenolic and tocopherol compounds.