Promotion of neutralizing antibody-independent immunity to wild-type and SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern using an RBD-Nucleocapsid fusion protein.

Both T cells and B cells have been shown to be generated after infection with SARS-CoV-2 yet protocols or experimental models to study one or the other are less common. Here, we generate a chimeric protein (SpiN) that comprises the receptor binding domain (RBD) from Spike (S) and the nucleocapsid (N) antigens from SARS-CoV-2. Memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells specific for SpiN could be detected in the blood of both individuals vaccinated with Coronavac SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and COVID-19 convalescent donors. In mice, SpiN elicited a strong IFN-γ response by T cells and high levels of antibodies to the inactivated virus, but not detectable neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). Importantly, immunization of Syrian hamsters and the human Angiotensin Convertase Enzyme-2-transgenic (K18-ACE-2) mice with Poly ICLC-adjuvanted SpiN promotes robust resistance to the wild type SARS-CoV-2, as indicated by viral load, lung inflammation, clinical outcome and reduction of lethality. The protection induced by SpiN was ablated by depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and not transferred by antibodies from vaccinated mice. Finally, vaccination with SpiN also protects the K18-ACE-2 mice against infection with Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Hence, vaccine formulations that elicit effector T cells specific for the N and RBD proteins may be used to improve COVID-19 vaccines and potentially circumvent the immune escape by variants of concern.

Panorama da Sífilis no município do norte brasileiro no período de 2013 a 2017 / Panorama general de la sífilis en el municipio del norte de Brasil de 2013 a 2017 / Overview of Syphilis in the northern Brazilian municipality from 2013 to 2017

Justificativas e Objetivos: A sífilis é a infecção bacteriana mais disseminada na população humana, sendo a principal forma de transmissão por contato sexual. Analisar os dados epidemiológico da população do município de Rio Branco ­ Acre ­ Brasil com diagnóstico positivo da Sífilis entre os anos de 2013 e 2017. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, do tipo transversal e abordagem quantitativa aplicado aos dados do Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Acre da população infectada com T. pallidum. Resultados: De um total de 5.239 pessoas infectadas com sífilis, 56,8% são do sexo feminino entre idade de 20 a 30 anos e autodeclaradas de cor parda. Além disso, 1006 gestantes, 43% das quais estavam na faixa de 11 a 20 anos e 37,5% estavam no segundo trimestre da gestação. Para os nascidos vivos, 107 crianças com sífilis congênita precoce foram diagnosticadas. Conclusão: As informações para a prevenção da infecção devem ser intensificadas principalmente as pessoas que estão desinformadas sobre a IST na cidade como os: adolescentes, idosos e populações indígenas afim de evitar a transmissão da sífilis.(AU)

Justifications and Objectives: Syphilis is the most widespread bacterial infection in the human population, being the main form of transmission through sexual contact. Analyze the epidemiological data of the population of the municipality of Rio Branco - Acre - Brazil with a positive diagnosis of Syphilis between the years 2013 and 2017. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach applied to data from the Central Laboratory of Public Health in Acre of the population infected with T. pallidum. Results: Of a total of 5,239 people infected with syphilis, 56.8% are female between the ages of 20 and 30 years old and self-declared to be brown. In addition, 1006 pregnant women, 43% of whom were between 11 and 20 years old and 37.5% were in the second trimester of pregnancy. For live births, 107 children with early congenital syphilis were diagnosed. Conclusion: Information for the prevention of infection should be intensified, especially for people who are uninformed about STIs in the city, such as: adolescents, the elderly and indigenous populations in order to avoid syphilis transmission.(AU)

Justificación y objetivos: La sífilis es la infección bacteriana más extendida en la población humana, siendo la principal forma de transmisión a través del contacto sexual. Analice los datos epidemiológicos de la población del municipio de Rio Branco - Acre - Brasil con un diagnóstico positivo de sífilis entre los años 2013 y 2017. Métodos: Este es un estudio descriptivo, transversal con un enfoque cuantitativo aplicado a los datos del Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública en Acre de la población infectada con T. pallidum. Resultados: De un total de 5,239 personas infectadas con sífilis, el 56.8% son mujeres entre las edades de 20 y 30 años y se declaran marrones. Además, 1006 mujeres embarazadas, el 43% de las cuales tenían entre 11 y 20 años y el 37.5% estaban en el segundo trimestre del embarazo. Para los nacimientos vivos, se diagnosticaron 107 niños con sífilis congénita temprana. Conclusión: La información para la prevención de la infección debe intensificarse, especialmente para las personas que no están informadas sobre las ITS en la ciudad, como: adolescentes, ancianos y poblaciones indígenas para evitar la transmisión de la sífilis.(AU)