Nasal prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection by intranasal influenza-based boost vaccination

BackgroundVaccines in emergency use are efficacious against COVID-19, yet vaccine-induced prevention against nasal SARS-CoV-2 infection remains suboptimal. MethodsSince mucosal immunity is critical for nasal prevention, we investigated an intramuscular PD1-based receptor-binding domain (RBD) DNA vaccine (PD1-RBD-DNA) and intranasal live attenuated influenza-based vaccines (LAIV-CA4-RBD and LAIV-HK68-RBD) against SARS-CoV-2. FindingsSubstantially higher systemic and mucosal immune responses, including bronchoalveolar lavage IgA/IgG and lung polyfunctional memory CD8 T cells, were induced by the heterologous PD1-RBD-DNA/LAIV-HK68-RBD as compared with other regimens. When vaccinated animals were challenged at the memory phase, prevention of robust SARS-CoV-2 infection in nasal turbinate was achieved primarily by the heterologous regimen besides consistent protection in lungs. The regimen-induced antibodies cross-neutralized variants of concerns. Furthermore, LAIV-CA4-RBD could boost the BioNTech vaccine for improved mucosal immunity. InterpretationOur results demonstrated that intranasal influenza-based boost vaccination is required for inducing mucosal and systemic immunity for effective SARS-CoV-2 prevention in both upper and lower respiratory systems. FundingThis study was supported by the Research Grants Council Collaborative Research Fund (C7156-20G, C1134-20G and C5110-20G), General Research Fund (17107019) and Health and Medical Research Fund (19181052 and 19181012) in Hong Kong; Outbreak Response to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations; Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (JSGG20200225151410198); the Health@InnoHK, Innovation and Technology Commission of Hong Kong; and National Program on Key Research Project of China (2020YFC0860600, 2020YFA0707500 and 2020YFA0707504); and donations from the Friends of Hope Education Fund. Z.C.s team was also partly supported by the Theme-Based Research Scheme (T11-706/18-N).

SARS-CoV-2 hijacks neutralizing dimeric IgA for enhanced nasal infection and injury

Robust severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in nasal turbinate (NT) accounts for high viral transmissibility, yet whether neutralizing IgA antibodies can control it remains unknown. Here, we evaluated receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific monomeric B8-mIgA1 and B8-mIgA2, and dimeric B8-dIgA1 and B8-dIgA2 against intranasal SARS-CoV-2 challenge in Syrian hamsters. These antibodies exhibited comparably potent neutralization against authentic virus by competing with human angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor for RBD binding. While reducing viruses in lungs, pre-exposure intranasal B8-dIgA1 or B8-dIgA2 led to 81-fold more infectious viruses and severer damage in NT than placebo. Virus-bound B8-dIgA1 and B8-dIgA2 could engage CD209 as an alternative receptor for entry into ACE2-negative cells and allowed viral cell-to-cell transmission. Cryo-EM revealed B8 as a class II neutralizing antibody binding trimeric RBDs in 3-up or 2-up/1-down conformation. Therefore, RBD-specific neutralizing dIgA engages an unexpected action for enhanced SARS-CoV-2 nasal infection and injury in Syrian hamsters.

Flushing methods, temperature and flushing time of sodium hypochlorite affect the clearance effect on the smear layer of root canal / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:In root canal preparation, the clearance effect of sodium hypochlorite for root canal irrigation on the smear layer is associated with the contact time and contact area of irrigation fluid, the amount of irrigation fluid, irrigation fluid temperature, irrigation fluid concentration, flushing methods and so on. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clearance effect of 3% sodium hypochlorite on the smear layer of root canal under different flushing methods, flushing temperature and flushing time. METHODS:Totaly 180 isolated front teeth with single root were colected and root canal preparation was conducted using motorized ProTaper. The root canal was flushed with 3% sodium hypochlorite. According to different flushing methods, these root canals were randomly and evenly divided into root canal active flushing group, passive ultrasound swished group and side opening flushing needle group. According to the flushing temperature and the flushing time after replacing a file, each group was randomly divided into six subgroups: 20℃ 30 seconds group, 20℃ 60 seconds group, 37 ℃ 30 se group. The clearance effect on the smear layer of root canal was observed using scanning electron microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The general clearance effect on the smear layer in the root canal active flushing group was better than that in the passive ultrasound swished group and side opening flush acupuncture group (P< 0.05). At the same time, the clearance effect on the smear layer in the 60℃ group was better that that in the 37 ℃ group and 20℃group (P < 0.05). At a certain temperature, the clearance effect on the smear layer in 60 seconds group was better than that in the 30 seconds group (P < 0.05). The clearance effect on the smear layer in the 1/3 root cap zone was better than that in the 1/3 root and 1/3 apical root zone (P < 0.05). These results show that the best clearance effect on the smear layer can be achieved as folows: 3% sodium hypochlorite irrigation at 60℃ for 60 seconds.

Establishment of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of alcohol dehydrogenase autoantibody and the evaluation of its usage in the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To establish the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of serum alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) antibody and evaluate its role in its diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis( AIH ). Methods The reactivity between yeast ADH and human anti-ADH serum antibody was tested by Western blot analysis. ELISA was established using yeast ADH. The method was applied in serums of 67 AIH patients,94 primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC) patients, 199 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 132 chronic hepatitis(CHC) patients, 24 alcohol hepatitis disease(ALD) patients, 99 connective tissue disease(CTD) patients and 31 healthy individuals. The positive rate of ADH antibody in the patients and healthy individuals was measured. The χ2 test was used to compare the positive rates. Results The ELISA method for detecting human anti-ADH serum antibody was established successfully and the optimum reaction conditions were defined. Western blot showed that yeast ADH has cross reactivity with human anti-ADH antibody. The positive rate of anti-ADH antibody in the AIH group [59. 7% ,40/67 ] was higher than that in the normal control group(0,χ2 = 31. 271 ,P <0. 05), PBC group (6. 4% ,χ2 =54. 492,P <0. 05), CHB group( 14. 1% ,χ2 =54. 848,P <0. 05) ,CHC group(21.2% ,χ2 = 29.269,P<0.05), ALl) group ( 25. 0% ,χ2 =8.512,P <0.05)and CTD group ( 43. 4% ,χ2 =4.229, P <0. 05). Conclusions Compared with the PBC, CHB, CHC, ALD and CTD group, the anti-ADH antibody positive rate in the serums of AIH was significantly increased. The antibody may be helpful to the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis.