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Background: Aerosolised Ad5-nCoV is one of the first licensed mucosal respiratory vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in the world; however, the safety profile of this vaccine has not been reported in a large population yet., Methods: This multicentre, open-label phase 3 trial, done in 15 centres in six provinces (Jiangsu, Hunan, Anhui, Chongqing, Yunnan, Shandong) in China, aimed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV in healthy adults (members of the general population with no acute febrile disorders, infectious disease, serious cardiovascular diseases, serious chronic diseases or progressive diseases that cannot be controlled) at least 18 years old, who had received two doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine as their primary regimen. This study contained a non-randomly assigned safety cohort and a centrally randomly assigned (1:1) immunogenicity subcohort. The patients in the immunogenicity subcohort received aerosolised Ad5-nCov (aerosolised Ad5-nCoV group) or inactivated vaccine (inactivated COVID-19 group) The primary endpoints were the incidence of adverse reactions within 28 days following the booster vaccination with aerosolised Ad5-nCoV in the safety population (collected through a daily record of any solicited or unsolicited adverse events filled by each participant) and the geometric mean titre of neutralising antibodies at day 28 after the booster dose in the immunogenicity subcohort (measured with a pseudovirus neutralisation test). This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05204589., Findings: Between Jan 22, 2022, and March 12, 2022, we recruited 11 410 participants who were screened for eligibility, of whom 10 267 (99·8%) participants (5738 [55·9%] men, 4529 [44·1%] women; median age 53 years [18-92]) received the study drugs: 9847 (95·9%) participants in the open-label cohort to receive aerosolised Ad5-nCoV, and 420 (4·1%) in the immunogenicity subcohort (212 in the aerosolised Ad5-nCoV group and 208 in the inactivated vaccine group). Adverse reactions were reported by 1299 (13%) of 10 059 participants within 28 days after receiving the booster vaccination with aerosolised Ad5-nCoV, but most of the adverse reactions reported were mild to moderate in severity. Participants in the aerosolised Ad5-nCoV group had a significantly higher level of the neutralising antibodies against omicron BA.4/5 (GMT 107·7 [95% CI 88·8-130·7]) than did those in the inactivated vaccine group (17·2 [16·3-18·2]) at day 28., Interpretation: The heterologous booster regimen with aerosolised Ad5-nCoV is safe and highly immunogenic, boosting both systemic and mucosal immunity against omicron subvariants., Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Jiangsu Provincial Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and Jiangsu Provincial Key Project of Science and Technology Plan., Translation: For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests J-BG and TZ are employees of CanSino Biologics. All the other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Heterologous booster immunisation with orally administered aerosolised Ad5-nCoV vaccine (AAd5) has been shown to be safe and highly immunogenic in adults. Here, we aimed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of heterologous booster immunisation with orally administered AAd5 in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years who had received two doses of inactivated vaccine (BBIBP-CorV or CoronaVac)., Methods: We did a randomised, open-label, parallel-controlled, non-inferiority study to assess the safety and immunogenicity of heterologous booster immunisation with AAd5 (0·1 mL) or intramuscular Ad5-nCoV vaccine (IMAd5; 0·3 mL) and homologous booster immunisation with inactivated vaccine (BBIBP-CorV or CoronaVac; 0·5 mL) in children (aged 6-12 years) and adolescents (aged 13-17 years) who had received two doses of inactivated vaccine at least 3 months earlier in Hunan, China. Children and adolescents who were previously immunised with two-dose BBIBP-CorV or CoronaVac were recruited for eligibility screening at least 3 months after the second dose. A stratified block method was used for randomisation, and participants were stratified by age and randomly assigned (3:1:1) to receive AAd5, IMAd5, or inactivated vaccine. The study staff and participants were not masked to treatment allocation. Laboratory and statistical staff were masked during the study. In this interim analysis, adverse events within 14 days and geometric mean titre (GMT) of serum neutralising antibodies on day 28 after the booster vaccination, based on the per-protocol population, were used as the primary outcomes. The analysis of non-inferiority was based on comparison using a one-sided 97·5% CI with a non-inferiority margin of 0·67. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05330871, and is ongoing., Findings: Between April 17 and May 28, 2022, 436 participants were screened and 360 were enrolled: 220 received AAd5, 70 received IMAd5, and 70 received inactivated vaccine. Within 14 days after booster vaccination, vaccine-related adverse reactions were reported: 35 adverse events (in 13 [12%] of 110 children and 22 [20%] of 110 adolescents) in 220 individuals in the AAd5 group, 35 (in 18 [51%] of 35 children and 17 [49%] of 35 adolescents) in 70 individuals in the IMAd5 group, and 13 (in five [14%] of 35 children and eight [23%] of 35 adolescents) in 70 individuals in the inactivated vaccine group. Solicited adverse reactions were also reported: 34 (13 [12%] of 110 children and 21 [10%] of 110 adolescents) in 220 individuals in the AAd5 group, 34 (17 [49%] of 35 children and 17 [49%] of 35 adolescents) in 70 individuals in the IMAd5 group, and 12 (five [14%] of 35 children and seven [20%] of 35 adolescents) in 70 individuals in the inactivated vaccine group. The GMTs of neutralising antibodies against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1 (Pango lineage B) in the AAd5 group were significantly higher than the GMTs in the inactivated vaccine group (adjusted GMT ratio 10·2 [95% CI 8·0-13·1]; p<0·0001)., Interpretation: Our study shows that a heterologous booster with AAd5 is safe and highly immunogenic against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1 in children and adolescents., Funding: National Key R&D Program of China., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests J-BG, H-TH, XW, and HL are employees of CanSino Biologics. The other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Aerosolised Ad5-nCoV is the first approved mucosal respiratory COVID-19 vaccine to be used as a booster after the primary immunisation with COVID-19 vaccines. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV, intramuscular Ad5-nCoV, or inactivated COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac given as the second booster., Methods: This is an open-label, parallel-controlled, phase 4 randomised trial enrolling healthy adult participants (≥18 years) who had completed a two-dose primary immunisation and a booster immunisation with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines (CoronaVac only) at least 6 months before, in Lianshui and Donghai counties, Jiangsu Province, China. We recruited eligible participants from previous trials in China (NCT04892459, NCT04952727, and NCT05043259) as cohort 1 (with the serum before and after the first booster dose available), and from eligible volunteers in Lianshui and Donghai counties, Jiangsu Province, as cohort 2. Participants were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1:1, using a web-based interactive response randomisation system, to receive the fourth dose (second booster) of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV (0·1 mL of 1·0 × 10 11 viral particles per mL), intramuscular Ad5-nCoV (0·5 mL of 1·0 × 10 11 viral particles per mL), or inactivated COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac (0·5 mL), respectively. The co-primary outcomes were safety and immunogenicity of geometric mean titres (GMTs) of serum neutralising antibodies against prototype live SARS-CoV-2 virus 28 days after the vaccination, assessed on a per-protocol basis. Non-inferiority or superiority was achieved when the lower limit of the 95% CI of the GMT ratio (heterologous group vs homologous group) exceeded 0·67 or 1·0, respectively. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05303584 and is ongoing., Findings: Between April 23 and May 23, 2022, from 367 volunteers screened for eligibility, 356 participants met eligibility criteria and received a dose of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV (n=117), intramuscular Ad5-nCoV (n=120), or CoronaVac (n=119). Within 28 days of booster vaccination, participants in the intramuscular Ad5-nCoV group reported a significantly higher frequency of adverse reactions than those in the aerosolised Ad5-nCoV and intramuscular CoronaVac groups (30% vs 9% and 14%, respectively; p<0·0001). No serious adverse events related to the vaccination were reported. The heterologous boosting with aerosolised Ad5-nCoV triggered a GMT of 672·4 (95% CI 539·7-837·7) and intramuscular Ad5-nCoV triggered a serum neutralising antibody GMT of 582·6 (505·0-672·2) 28 days after the booster dose, both of which were significantly higher than the GMT in the CoronaVac group (58·5 [48·0-71·4]; p<0·0001)., Interpretation: A heterologous fourth dose (second booster) with either aerosolised Ad5-nCoV or intramuscular Ad5-nCoV was safe and highly immunogenic in healthy adults who had been immunised with three doses of CoronaVac., Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Jiangsu Provincial Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and Jiangsu Provincial Key Project of Science and Technology Plan., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests J-BG is an employee of CanSino Biologics. Tao Zhu owns stock in CanSino Biologics. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: People over 60 have been found to develop less protection after two doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines than younger people. Heterologous immunisation could potentially induce more robust immune responses compared to homologous immunisation. We aimed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of a heterologous immunisation with an adenovirus type 5-vectored vaccine (Ad5-nCOV, Convidecia) among elderly who were primed with an inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac) previously., Methods: We did a randomised, observer-blinded, non-inferiority trial in healthy adults aged 60 years and older in Lianshui County (Jiangsu, China) between August 26, 2021 and May 15, 2022. 199 eligible participants who had received two doses of CoronaVac in the past 3-6 months were randomised (1:1) to receive a third dose of Convidecia (group A, n = 99) or CoronaVac (group B, n = 100), while 100 participants primed with one dose of CoronaVac in the past 1-2 months were randomised equally to receive a second dose of Convidecia (group C, n = 50) or CoronaVac (group D, n = 50). Participants and investigators were masked to the vaccine received. Primary outcomes were the geometric mean titers (GMTs) of neutralising antibodies against live SARS-CoV-2 virus 14 days after boosting and 28-day adverse reactions. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.govNCT04952727., Findings: A heterologous third dose of Convidecia resulted in a 6.2-fold (GMTs: 286.4 vs 48.2), 6.3-fold (45.9 vs 7.3) and 7.5-fold (32.9 vs 4.4) increase in neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 wild-type, delta (B.1.617.2) and omicron (BA.1.1) 14 days post boosting, respectively, compared with the homologous boost. The heterologous booster with Convidecia induced significantly higher neutralsing activities, with up to 91% inhibition in binding of Spike to ACE2 for BA.4 and BA.5 variants, compared with 35% inhibition induced by three doses of CoronaVac. For participants primed with one dose of CoronaVac, a heterologous dose of Convidecia induced higher neutralising antibodies against wild-type than two doses of CoronaVac (GMTs: 70.9 vs 9.3, p < 0.0001), but not for that against variants of concern (GMTs against delta: 5.0 vs 4.0, p = 0.4876; GMTs against omicron: 4.8 vs 3.7, p = 0.4707). Adverse reactions were reported by 8 (8.1%) participants in group A and 4 (4.0%) in group B (p ＞ 0.05), and 8 (16.0%) in group C and 1 (2.0%) in group D (p = 0.031)., Interpretation: In elderly individuals primed with two doses of CoronaVac, the heterologous immunisation with Convidecia induced strong antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 wildtype and variants of concern, which could be an alternative regimen for enhancing protection in this vulnerable population., Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Jiangsu Provincial Key Research and Development Program, and Jiangsu Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars Program., Competing Interests: J.G., T.Z., H.H., X.W., and P.W. are employees of CanSino Biologics. All the other authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: The demonstration of batch-to-batch consistency is indispensable for quality control of vaccines., Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial to evaluate the immunogenicity consistency of a single shot of Ad5-nCoV in healthy adults who had not previously received any COVID-19 vaccine. All eligible participants were randomly assigned equally to receive one of the three consecutive batches of Ad5-nCoV (5 × 10 10 viral particles/vial, 0.5 mL). The primary endpoint was geometric mean titers (GMTs) of serum SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific IgG on day 28 post-vaccination., Results: One thousand fifty participants were enrolled, with 350 (33%) participants per group. On day 28 post-vaccination, GMTs in three groups were 78.3 binding antibody units (BAU)/mL (95% CI 70.3-87.3), 82.9 BAU/mL (73.9-92.9), and 78.8 BAU/mL (70.2-88.4), respectively. The two-sided 95% CIs for the GMT ratios between each pair of batches were all between 0.67 and 1.5. The highest incidence of solicited adverse reactions within 7 days post-vaccination was reported by batch 3 recipients (23.1% versus 15.1% in batch 1 recipients and 14.6% in bath 2 recipients; p = 0.0039). None of the serious adverse events were related to vaccination., Conclusions: Immunogenicity consistency between consecutive batches of Ad5-nCoV was well established in adults., Clinical Trial Registration: This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05313646).

Background: Due to waning immunity and protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2, a third dose of a homologous or heterologous COVID-19 vaccine has been proposed by health agencies for individuals who were previously primed with two doses of an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine., Methods: We did a randomised, open-label, controlled trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of heterologous boost immunisation with an orally administered aerosolised adenovirus type-5 vector-based COVID-19 vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) in Chinese adults (≥18 years old) who had previously received two doses of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-Sinovac CoronaVac. Eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a heterologous booster vaccination with a low dose (1·0 × 10 11 viral particles per mL; 0·1 mL; low dose group), or a high dose (1·0 × 10 11 viral particles per mL; 0·2 mL; high dose group) aerosolised Ad5-nCoV, or a homologous intramuscular vaccination with CoronaVac (0·5 mL). Only laboratory staff were masked to group assignment. The primary endpoint for safety was the incidence of adverse reactions within 14 days after the booster dose. The primary endpoint for immunogenicity was the geometric mean titres (GMTs) of serum neutralising antibodies (NAbs) against live SARS-CoV-2 virus 14 days after the booster dose. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05043259., Findings: Between Sept 14 and 16, 2021, 420 participants were enrolled: 140 (33%) participants per group. Adverse reactions were reported by 26 (19%) participants in the low dose group and 33 (24%) in the high dose group within 14 days after the booster vaccination, significantly less than the 54 (39%) participants in the CoronaVac group (p<0·0001). The low dose group had a serum NAb GMT of 744·4 (95% CI 520·1-1065·6) and the high dose group had a GMT of 714·1 (479·4-1063·7) 14 days after booster dose, significantly higher than the GMT in the CoronaVac group (78·5 [60·5-101·7]; p<0·0001)., Interpretation: We found that a heterologous booster vaccine with an orally administered aerosolised Ad5-nCoV is safe and highly immunogenic in adults who have previously received two doses of CoronaVac as the primary series vaccination., Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China and Jiangsu Provincial Key Research and Development Program., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The development of shale oil reservoirs is significant for the petroleum industry. Fluids in shale oil play exist in nanoscale pores, and the interaction between fluids and shale rock surface walls can lead to the expansion and deformation of the entire pore medium thus affecting the development and production of oil reservoirs. We used an organic matter (graphene) pore model to represent the nanopore structure of shale reservoir. Methane, n-hexane and n-dodecane multi-component fluids were used to characterize shale oil. The adsorption and deformation law of multi-component shale oil in the nanopore was systematically studied by using the molecular simulation method. The results showed that the adsorption of multi-component shale oil in organic nanopores was positively correlated with pressure. The total adsorption amount increased with the increase of pressure. Firstly, when the ratio of CO2 was higher, it was more favorable for the development of crude oil and the large amount of CO2 sequestration. The adsorption amount was negatively correlated with temperature. Secondly, the adsorption amount of multicomponent shale oil is proportional to the pore size; The adsorption amount of large-size pore model is more sensitive to pressure changes than that of small-size pore model. Finally, the trend of adsorption deformation volume is similar to that of adsorption volume, which decreases with the increase of temperature. The shale deformation caused by CO2 injection at this time is much smaller than the other component ratios, indicating that the magnitude of deformation is positively related to the adsorption volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a self-controlled case series study to investigate the association between COVID-19 vaccination and facial palsy (FP) in South Korea. We used a large immunization registry linked with the national health information database. We included 44,564,345 patients >18 years of age who received >1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, or Ad.26.COV2.S) and had an FP diagnosis and corticosteroid prescription within 240 days postvaccination. We compared FP incidence in a risk window (days 1-28) with a control window (the remainder of the 240-day observation period, excluding any risk windows). We found 5,211 patients experienced FP within the risk window and 10,531 experienced FP within the control window. FP risk increased within 28 days postvaccination, primarily after first and second doses and was observed for both mRNA and viral vaccines. Clinicians should carefully assess the FP risk-benefit profile associated with the COVID-19 vaccines and monitor neurologic signs after vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monkeypox (mpox) is a zoonotic illness caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), with higher health concerns among people who are pregnant, children, and persons who are immunocompromised, including people with untreated and advanced HIV disease. Significant progress has been made in developing vaccines against mpox, yet critical challenges and limitations persist in ensuring their effectiveness, safety, and accessibility. The pertinence of this review is highlighted by the World Health Organization's declaration of a global health emergency on August 14, 2024, due to the recent mpox outbreak, underscoring the critical necessity for effective vaccine solutions in the face of a rapidly evolving virus. Here, we comprehensively analyze various vaccine platforms utilized in mpox prevention, including attenuated and nonreplicating virus vaccines, viral vector-based vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, and DNA and mRNA vaccines. We evaluate the advantages and limitations of each platform, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing research and innovation to enhance vaccine efficacy and safety. Recent advancements, such as incorporating immunostimulatory sequences, improved delivery systems, and developing polyvalent vaccines, are explored for their potential to offer broader protection against diverse orthopoxvirus strains. This work underscores the need to optimize currently available vaccines and investigate novel vaccination strategies to address future public health emergencies effectively. By focusing on these advanced methodologies, we aim to contribute to the development of robust and adaptable vaccine solutions for mpox and other related viral threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 was a dreadful disease that turned into a pandemic, which made drug therapy a challenging task. With the advancement of medical science, the treatment of diseases has become much more sophisticated and with the advent of the vaccination system, the prevention of dreadful diseases that affect vast human communities can be effective is possible. Aims and Objectives: This work was initiated to understand the safety of Covishield™ by following the patients for any possible side effects and adverse effects after 1st and 2nd doses of vaccination. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, India, on participants who got vaccinated with Covishield™ and reported the adverse effects that were noticed after 14 days of vaccination. Results: Out of 184 subjects who participated in the study, 161 patients suffered pain at the injection site after the first dose, of which 90% of the participants were relieved and 93 suffered after the second dose, of which 95% of the participants were relieved with little medical intervention in the form of analgesics. Almost 50% of participants suffered fever and fatigue and <30% of the participants suffered headache, chills, and giddiness within 2 days of the first dose. Lump and warmth at the injection site are common with any vaccination and the incidence was <10% of the participants. All the symptoms subsided with intervention with paracetamol. Conclusion: The safety of the vaccine is evident from this study. Through this study, we hope that the administration of the vaccination can be conducted doubtlessly to fight COVID-19 and any symptoms that arise eventually can be monitored and treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Obesity is a common feature in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and potentially significantly influences reproductive function. However, opinions are divided as to which factor is a more appropriate obesity predictor of reproductive outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the discriminatory capability of anthropometric measures in predicting reproductive outcomes in Chinese women with PCOS. Methods: A total of 998 women with PCOS from PCOSAct were included. Logistic regression models were used to compute the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CIs) to assess the effect of anthropometric measures, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), the waist‒hip ratio (WHR) and the waist‒height ratio (WHtR), on reproductive outcomes. The discrimination abilities of the models were assessed and compared based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), Akaike's information criterion (AIC) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Results: Among PCOS women, there was a graded association between anthropometric measures and predicted reproductive outcomes across quintiles of anthropometric measures, including a linear association among WHR, BMI and reproductive outcomes and among waist circumference, WHtR and live birth, pregnancy, and ovulation. However, only a linear association was noted between the hip and ovulation. C-statistic comparisons and IDI analyses revealed a trend towards a significant superiority of BMI for ovulation and WHR for live birth, pregnancy and conception in the models. Combining obesity variables improved discrimination in the multivariable models for reproductive outcomes. Conclusions: Our findings support that BMI is a better predictor of ovulation and that the WHR is a better predictor of live birth, pregnancy and conception, whereas the combination of obesity variables contributes to the discrimination of reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Natural infection or vaccination have provided robust immune defense against SARS-CoV-2 invasion, nevertheless, Omicron variants still successfully cause breakthrough infection, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Methods: Sequential blood samples were continuously collected at different time points from 252 volunteers who were received the CanSino Ad5-nCoV (n = 183) vaccine or the Sinovac CoronaVac inactivated vaccine (n= 69). The anti- SARS-CoV-2 prototype and Omicron BA.5.2 as well as XBB.1.16 variant neutralizing antibodies (Nab) in sera were detected by ELISA. Sera were also used to measure pseudo and live virus neutralization assay. The associations between the anti-prototype Nab levels and different HLA-ABC alleles were analyzed using artificial intelligence (AI)-deep learning techniques. The frequency of B cells in PBMCs was investigated by flow cytometry assay (FACs). Results: Individuals carrying the HLA-B*15 allele manifested the highest concentrations of anti-SARS-CoV-2 prototype Nab after vax administration. Unfortunately, these volunteers are more susceptible to Omicron BA.5.2 breakthrough infection due to their sera have poorer anti-BA.5.2 Nab and lower levels of viral neutralization efficacy. FACs confirmed that a significant decrease in CD19+CD27+RBD+ memory B cells in these HLA-B*15 population compared to other cohorts. Importantly, generating lower concentrations of cross-reactive anti-XBB.1.16 Nab post-BA.5.2 infection caused HLA-B*15 individuals to be further infected by XBB.1.16 variant. Conclusions: Individuals carrying the HLA-B*15 allele respond better to COVID-19 vax including the CanSino Ad5-nCoV and the Sinovac CoronaVac inactivated vaccines, but are more susceptible to Omicron variant infection, thus, a novel vaccine against this population is necessary for COVID-19 pandemic control in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a newly identified tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever caused by Dabie Banda virus (DBV). The virus was first discovered in eastern China in 2009 and is now considered an infectious disease with a mortality rate ranging from 6.3% to 30%. The best strategy for controlling SFTS is to develop effective vaccines. However, no approved vaccines are currently available to prevent this disease, despite the number of extensive and in-depth studies conducted on DBV in the past few years. This review focuses on the structure of DBV and the induced host immune responses which are the fundamental factors in vaccine development, and thoroughly summarizes the current research progress on DBV vaccines. The developing DBV vaccines include protein subunit vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, recombinant virus vector vaccines, and DNA vaccines. At present, almost all candidate vaccines for DBV are in the laboratory development or preclinical stages. There remain challenges in successfully developing clinically approved DBV vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence of nanotechnology has injected new vigor into vaccine research. Nanovaccine research has witnessed exponential growth in recent years; yet, a comprehensive analysis of related publications has been notably absent. Objective: This study utilizes bibliometric methodologies to reveal the evolution of themes and the distribution of nanovaccine research. Methods: Using tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Scimago Graphica, Pajek, R-bibliometrix, and R packages for the bibliometric analysis and visualization of literature retrieved from the Web of Science database. Results: Nanovaccine research commenced in 1981. The publication volume exponentially increased, notably in 2021. Leading contributors include the United States, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the "Vaccine", and researcher Zhao Kai. Other significant contributors comprise China, the University of California, San Diego, Veronique Preat, the Journal of Controlled Release, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The USA functions as a central hub for international cooperation. Financial support plays a pivotal role in driving research advancements. Key themes in highly cited articles include vaccine carrier design, cancer vaccines, nanomaterial properties, and COVID-19 vaccines. Among 7402 keywords, the principal nanocarriers include Chitosan, virus-like particles, gold nanoparticles, PLGA, and lipid nanoparticles. Nanovaccine is primarily intended to address diseases including SARS-CoV-2, cancer, influenza, and HIV. Clustering analysis of co-citation networks identifies 9 primary clusters, vividly illustrating the evolution of research themes over different periods. Co-citation bursts indicate that cancer vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, and mRNA vaccines are pivotal areas of focus for current and future research in nanovaccines. "candidate vaccines," "protein nanoparticle," "cationic lipids," "ionizable lipids," "machine learning," "long-term storage," "personalized cancer vaccines," "neoantigens," "outer membrane vesicles," "in situ nanovaccine," and "biomimetic nanotechnologies" stand out as research interest. Conclusions: This analysis emphasizes the increasing scholarly interest in nanovaccine research and highlights pivotal recent research themes such as cancer and COVID-19 vaccines, with lipid nanoparticle-mRNA vaccines leading novel research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive evaluation of reservoirs is an important link in gas reservoir exploration and development. The evaluation of tight carbonate reservoirs often focuses on the characteristics of porosity and permeability, ignoring the important factor of fractures, also the quantitative evaluation of reservoirs is relatively few. It is difficult to identify fractures and evaluate the reservoir factors qualitatively and quantitatively. Herein, the sedimentary microfacies and microporosity of the tight carbonate reservoir of the Ma55 submember in the eastern Sulige area are comprehensively studied by casting thin section, rock physical property, and capillary pressure test data. The backpropagation (BP) neural network algorithm is used to identify and predict fractures. Finally, through the analytic hierarchy process, the above reservoir influencing factors are modeled and quantitatively analyzed for reservoir evaluation. The results show that the highest probability of fracture development in the central and northwest areas of the study area can reach 0.92. The accuracy of the BP neural network model in identifying cracks can reach 80%, which is reliable and effective compared with the conventional logging identification method. Reservoirs can be classified into four types according to their quality. The synthetic weights of porosity, permeability and fracture development probability are 0.2, 0.2 and 0.216 respectively, which are the three most important evaluation parameters. This study improves the accuracy of fracture identification and prediction of tight reservoirs in comprehensive reservoir evaluation, which provides guidance and scheme for more detailed exploration and development of tight carbonate reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: To combat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), booster vaccination strategies are important. However, the optimal administration of booster vaccine platforms remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to assess the benefits and harms of three or four heterologous versus homologous booster regimens. Methods: From November 3 2022 to December 21, 2023, we searched five databases for randomised clinical trials (RCT). Reviewers screened, extracted data, and assessed bias risks independently with the Cochrane risk-of-bias 2 tool. We conducted meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses (TSA) on our primary (all-cause mortality; laboratory confirmed symptomatic and severe COVID-19; serious adverse events [SAE]) and secondary outcomes (quality of life [QoL]; adverse events [AE] considered non-serious). We assessed the evidence with the GRADE approach. Subgroup analyses were stratified for trials before and after 2023, three or four boosters, immunocompromised status, follow-up, risk of bias, heterologous booster vaccine platforms, and valency of booster. Results: We included 29 RCTs with 43 comparisons (12,538 participants). Heterologous booster regimens may not reduce the relative risk (RR) of all-cause mortality (11 trials; RR 0.86; 95% CI 0.33 to 2.26; I2 0%; very low certainty evidence); laboratory-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 (14 trials; RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.72 to 1.25; I2 0%; very low certainty); or severe COVID-19 (10 trials; RR 0.51; 95% CI 0.20 to 1.33; I2 0%; very low certainty). For safety outcomes, heterologous booster regimens may have no effect on SAE (27 trials; RR 1.15; 95% CI 0.68 to 1.95; I2 0%; very low certainty) but may raise AE considered non-serious (20 trials; RR 1.19; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.32; I2 64.4%; very low certainty). No data on QoL was available. Our TSAs showed that the cumulative Z curves did not reach futility for any outcome. Conclusions: With our current sample sizes, we were not able to infer differences of effects for any outcomes, but heterologous booster regimens seem to cause more non-serious AE. Furthermore, more robust data are instrumental to update this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine (Omicron BA.5) LVRNA012 given as the booster in immunized but SARS-CoV-2 infection-free adults in China. Methods: This is a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial enrolling healthy adult participants (≥18 years) who had completed two or three doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines at least 6 months before, in Bengbu, Anhui province, China. Eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a booster intramuscular vaccination with an LVRNA012 vaccine (100ug) or placebo. The primary endpoint was the protective efficacyof a boosterdose of the LVRNA012vaccineor placeboagainst symptomatic COVID-19 of any severity 14 days after vaccination. Laboratory-confirmed COVID- 19 infections were identified from14 days to 180 days after intervention, with active surveillance for symptomatic illness 8 times permonth between 7 to 90 days and at least once per month between 90 to 180 days after intervention. Results: 2615 participants were recruited and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the vaccine group (1308) or the placebo group (1307). A total of 141 individuals (46 in the LVRNA012 group and 95 in the placebo group) developed symptomatic COVID-19 infection 14 days after the booster immunization, showing a vaccine efficacy of 51.9% (95% CI, 31.3% to 66.4%). Most infections were detected 90 days after intervention during a period when XBB was prevalent in the community. Adverse reactions were reported by 64% of participants after the LVRNA012 vaccination, but most of them were mild or moderate. The booster vaccination with the LVRNA012 mRNA vaccine could significantly enhance neutralizing antibody titers against the Omicron variant XBB.1.5 (GMT 132.3 99.8, 175.4]) than did those in the placebo group (GMT 12.5 [8.4, 18.7]) at day 14 for the previously immunized individuals. Conclusion: The LVRNA012 mRNA vaccine is immunogenic, and shows robust efficacy in preventing COVID-19 during the omicron-predominate period. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05745545. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that neutralizing antibody levels induced by two doses of the inactivated vaccine decreased over time and had fallen to low levels by 6 months, and homologous and heterologous booster immunization programs have been implemented in adults in China. The booster immunization of recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (ZF2001) after priming with inactivated vaccine in healthy children and adolescents has not been reported. We performed an open-labeled, single-arm clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of heterologous booster immunization with ZF2001 after priming with inactivated vaccine among 240 population aged 3-17 years in China. The primary outcome was immunogenicity, including geometric mean titers (GMTs), geometric mean ratios (GMRs) and seroconversion rates of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies against prototype SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron BA.2 variant at 14 days after vaccination booster. On day 14 post-booster, a third dose booster of the ZF2001 provided a substantial increase in antibody responses in minors, and the overall occurrence rate of adverse reactions after heterologous vaccination was low and all adverse reactions were mild or moderate. The results showed that the ZF2001 heterologous booster had high immunogenicity and good safety profile in children and adolescents, and can elicit a certain level of neutralizing antibodies against Omicron. Trial registration NCT05895110 (Retrospectively registered, First posted in ClinicalTrials.gov date: 08/06/2023) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-replicating adenovirus-based vectors have been broadly used for the development of prophylactic vaccines in humans and are licensed for COVID-19 and Ebola virus disease prevention. Adenovirus-based vectored vaccines encode for one or more disease specific transgenes with the aim to induce protective immunity against the target disease. The magnitude and duration of transgene expression of adenovirus 5- based vectors (human type C) in the host are key factors influencing antigen presentation and adaptive immune responses. Here we characterize the magnitude, duration, and organ biodistribution of transgene expression after single intramuscular administration of adenovirus 26-based vector vaccines in mice and evaluate the differences with adenovirus 5-based vector vaccine to understand if this is universally applicable across serotypes. We demonstrate a correlation between peak transgene expression early after adenovirus 26-based vaccination and transgene-specific cellular and humoral immune responses for a model antigen and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, independent of innate immune activation. Notably, the memory immune response was similar in mice immunized with adenovirus 26-based vaccine and adenovirus 5-based vaccine, despite the latter inducing a higher peak of transgene expression early after immunization and a longer duration of transgene expression. Together these results provide further insights into the mode of action of adenovirus 26-based vector vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombinant adenovirus (rAd) regimens, including replication-competent oncolytic adenovirus (OAV) and replication-deficient adenovirus, have been identified as potential cancer therapeutics. OAV presents advantages such as selective replication, oncolytic efficacy, and tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling. In this perspective, the principles and advancements in developing OAV toolkits are reviewed. The burgeoning rAd may dictate efficacy of conventional cancer therapies as well as cancer immunotherapies, including cancer vaccines, synergy with adoptive cell therapy (ACT), and TME reshaping. Concurrently, we explored the potential of rAd hitchhiking to adoptive immune cells or stem cells, highlighting how this approach facilitates synergistic interactions between rAd and cellular therapeutics at tumor sites. Results from preclinical and clinical trials in which immune and stem cells were infected with rAd have been used to address significant oncological challenges, such as postsurgical residual tumor tissue and metastatic tissue. Briefly, rAd can eradicate tumors through various mechanisms, resulting from tumor immunogenicity, reprogramming of the TME, enhancement of cellular immunity, and effective tumor targeting. In this context, we argue that rAd holds immense potential for enhancing cellular immunity and synergistically improving antitumor effects in combination with novel cancer immunotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock thermal physical properties play a crucial role in understanding deep thermal conditions, modeling the thermal structure of the lithosphere, and discovering the evolutionary history of sedimentary basins. Recent advancements in geothermal exploration, particularly the identification of high-temperature geothermal resources in Datong Basin, Shanxi, China, have opened new possibilities. This study aims to characterize the thermal properties of rocks and explore factors influencing thermal conductivity in basins hosting high-temperature geothermal resources. A total of 70 groups of rock samples were collected from outcrops in and around Datong Basin, Shanxi Province. Thermal property tests were carried out to analyze the rock properties, and the influencing factors of thermal conductivity were studied through experiments at different temperature and water-filled states. The results indicate that the thermal conductivity of rocks in Datong, Shanxi Province, typically ranges from 0.690 W/(m·K) to 6.460 W/(m·K), the thermal diffusion coefficient ranges from 0.441 mm² /s to 2.023 mm² /s, and the specific heat capacity of the rocks ranges from 0.569 KJ/(kg·°C) to 1.117 KJ/(kg·°C). Experimental results reveal the impact of temperature and water saturation on the thermal conductivity of the rock. The thermal conductivity decreases with increasing temperature and rises with high water saturation. A temperature correction formula for the thermal conductivity of different lithologies in the area is proposed through linear fitting. The findings from this study provide essential parameters for the assessment and prediction, development, and utilization of geothermal resources in the region and other basins with typical high-temperature geothermal resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-19 pandemic has struck worldwide by end of 2019 and the use of various vaccine platforms was one of the main strategies to end this. To meet the needs for vaccine technology equality among many countries, we developed adenovirus-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate in Indonesia. SARS-CoV-2 Spike gene (S) was constructed into pAdEasy vector. The recombinant serotype 5 Adenovirus (AdV_S) genome was transfected into AD293 cells to produce recombinant adenovirus. Characterization using PCR confirmed the presence of spike gene. Transgene expression analysis showed the expression of S protein in AdV_S infected AD293 and A549 cells. Optimization of viral production showed the highest titer was obtained at MOI of 0.1 and 1 at 4 days. The in vivo study was performed by injecting Balb/c mice with 3.5 × 107 ifu of purified adenovirus. The result showed that S1-specific IgG was increased up to 56 days after single-dose administration of AdV_S. Interestingly, significant increase of S1 glycoprotein-specific IFN-γ ELISpot was observed in AdV_S treated Balb/c mice. In conclusion, the AdV_S vaccine candidate was successfully produced at laboratory scale, immunogenic, and did not cause severe inflammation in Balb/c mice. This study serves as initial step towards manufacturing of adenovirus-based vaccine in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caught the entire world off guard, leading countries across the globe to implement lockdown measures and resulting in a significant loss of life and physical impairment. The study aimed to assess the demographic factors affecting awareness, perception, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among students of a tertiary institution in northeastern Nigeria Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, and data were collected randomly through the administration of a structured questionnaire. Results: Among the study population, 451 (86.1%) were aware of COVID-19 vaccines. Of these, only 188(41.7%) had received the vaccine, while 263(58.3%) had not been vaccinated. Among the vaccinated, 119(63.3%) had received one of the five COVID-19 vaccines stated, while 69(36.7%) had no knowledge of the type of vaccine they had received. Of the 263(58.3%) unvaccinated respondents, 209(79.5%) attributed their hesitancy to a lack of trust in the vaccine. Although the positive perception of COVID-19 vaccines was higher than the negative perception among the respondents, but with no statistical difference (P=0.149). There was no significant relationship between respondents' awareness of COVID-19 vaccines with their gender (P=0.3341), marital status (P=0.1657), and age group (P=0.0713), but religion showed a strong significant relationship (P=0.0015). There was no significant relationship between respondents' perception of COVID-19 vaccines with gender (P=0.1885), marital status (P=0.5869), and religion (P=0.2286). Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of tailored information campaigns addressing vaccine hesitancy, promoting accurate knowledge, and addressing safety concerns to increase vaccine acceptance and uptake among students in tertiary institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During human early placentation, a proportion of extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) migrate to the maternal decidua, differentiating into endovascular EVTs to remodel spiral arteries and ensure the establishment of blood circulation at the maternal-fetal interface. Inadequate EVT migration and endovascular differentiation are closely associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage. Activin A and fibronectin are both secretory molecules abundantly expressed at the maternal-fetal interface. Activin A has been reported to regulate EVT biological functions. However, whether fibronectin mediates activin A-promoted EVT migration and acquisition of endothelial-like phenotype as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Additionally, the role of fibronectin in pregnancy establishment and maintenance warrants further investigation. Methods: Primary and immortalized (HTR8/SVneo) human EVTs were used as in vitro study models. Cultured human first-trimester chorionic villous explants were utilized for ex vivo validation. A local fibronectin knockdown model in ICR mouse uteri, achieved by nonviral in vivo transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting fibronectin 1 (si-Fn1), was employed to explore the roles of fibronectin in the establishment and maintenance of early pregnancy. Results: Our results showed that activin A treatment significantly induced fibronectin 1 (FN1) mRNA expression and fibronectin protein production, which is essential for human trophoblast migration and endothelial-like tube formation. Both basal and activin A-upregulated fibronectin expression were abolished by the TGF-β type I receptor inhibitor SB431542 or siRNA-mediated knockdown of activin receptor-like kinase (ALK4) or SMAD4. Moreover, activin A-increased trophoblast migration and endothelial-like tube formation were attenuated following the depletion of fibronectin. Fibronectin knockdown via intrauterine siRNA administration reduced CD31 and cytokeratin 8 (CK8) expression at the maternal-fetal interface, resulting in a decrease in the number of implantation sites and embryos. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that activin A promotes trophoblast cell migration and acquisition of endothelial-like phenotype via ALK4-SMAD2/3-SMAD4-mediated fibronectin upregulation. Furthermore, through a local fibronectin knockdown model in mouse uteri, we found that the absence of fibronectin at the maternal-fetal interface impedes endovascular migration of trophoblasts and decidual vascularization, thereby interfering with early embryo implantation and the maintenance of pregnancy. These findings provide novel insights into placental development during early pregnancy establishment and contribute to the advancement of therapeutic approaches for managing pregnancy complications related to trophoblast dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Self-efficacy has been recognized as a critical component in people’s participation and maintenance of physical activity. This study aims to validate the Chinese version of the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESE) among Chinese children and adolescents using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on two primary and two secondary schools in central China. The ESE scale was translated into Chinese (ESE-C) using the standard forward-backward translation method. Data were analyzed using Mplus 8 for the CFA. Results: The final model showed a satisfactory level of goodness-of-fit (CFI = 0.918; TLI = 0.905; SRMR = 0.043; RMSEA = 0.066), indicating a good construct validity of the ESE-C for children and adolescents in mainland China. Furthermore, the final ESE-C model achieved composite reliability values of 0.963 and average variance extraction values of 0.597, indicating sufficient convergent and discriminant validity. Besides, the Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.964, demonstrating excellent internal consistency of the ESE-C scale. Conclusion: The ESE-C scale is a valid instrument for assessing exercise self-efficacy among children and adolescents in mainland China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the associated gas of tight reservoirs, natural gas is abundant and noncorrosive, which is more suitable for the development of tight oil reservoirs in China. However, the mechanism of gas injection development is unclear, and the gas channeling is serious in tight reservoirs after fracturing. The water-alternating-gas (WAG) flooding is an effective means to delay gas channeling and improve oil recovery. Therefore, it is significant to clarify the mechanism of preventing gas channeling and recovering oil by water-alternation-natural gas (WANG) flooding. The WANG flooding experiments with different water–gas slugs were conducted in non-fracture and fractured tight cores. Besides, the oil distribution of different pore spaces of cores before and after displacement and the main contribution spaces on oil recovery were quantitatively analyzed by using nuclear magnetic resonance and core mercury porosimetry techniques. The results indicate that compared with natural gas flooding, the WANG flooding can retard gas channeling, increase formation energy, and enhance oil recovery by up to 14.1%, especially in fractured cores. Under the resistance of water slugs, the gas was allowed to enter smaller pores and its swept volume was expanded. Oil is mainly stored in mesopores (0.1–1 μm) and small pores (0.01–0.1 μm), accounting for over 90% of the total volume. The oil recovered mainly comes from mesopores, which accounts for over 75% of the total amount. Moreover, the WANG flooding strengthens the recovery of oil in mesopores and macropores (1–10 μm), but it also squeezes oil into small pores and micropores (0.001–0.01 μm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral dissolution and precipitation is an important factor affecting pore genesis and hydrocarbon accumulation in sedimentary basins. Differential diagenetic processes at different hydrocarbon charging periods generally cause disparate effects on reservoir quality, which is important for reservoir evaluation and prediction. Focusing on this question, petrologic work, quantitative analysis on reservoir quality including porosity, permeability, and micro-scale X-ray computer tomography were conducted in conglomeratic reservoirs of the late Permian Upper Wuerhe Formation (P3 w) in the Shawan Sag, Junggar Basin, northwestern China. The results show that tuff and volcanic debris are enriched in the formation. Laumontites generally occur as cements in the reservoirs due to the alteration of volcanic materials and small amounts of early-stage calcite precipitated during eodiagenesis. Partial laumontite and calcite cements, as well as some debris and feldspar, are differentially dissolved due to differential hydrocarbon charging. During the continuous compaction of the reservoir, first-stage hydrocarbon charging occurred in the middle Jurassic when primary porosity almost disappeared. Hydrocarbon charging inhibited the precipitation of laumontite and calcite, promoting their dissolution. Second-stage hydrocarbon charging in the early Cretaceous further caused more extensive dissolution of laumontite and calcite, forming more than 70% secondary porosity. Authigenic quartz, kaolinite, and late-stage calcite are precipitated as the associated minerals of laumontite dissolution. This study presents the significance of reservoir reconstruction after hydrocarbon charging and suggests prospective hydrocarbon accumulations in deeply buried clastic reservoirs when hydrocarbon supply is sufficient from source rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged late in 2019 and caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has so far claimed approximately 20 million lives. Vaccines were developed quickly, became available in the end of 2020, and had a tremendous impact on protection from SARS-CoV-2 mortality but with emerging variants the impact on morbidity was diminished. Here I review what we learned from COVID-19 from a vaccinologist's perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Ad26.COV2.S vaccine is a replication-incompetent human adenovirus type 26 vector encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. In a phase 1-2a trial, a single dose of Ad26.COV2.S induced SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibodies in ≥ 96% of healthy adults. To investigate vaccine immunogenicity in HIV-1-infection, we measured SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibodies in Ad26.COV2.S vaccinated HIV-1-infected patients and analyzed the presence of pre-existing Ad26 neutralizing antibodies. Methods: We included all Ad26.COV2.S vaccinated HIV-1-infected patients of Erlangen HIV cohort fulfilling all inclusion criteria. The study cohort consisted of 15 HIV-1-infected patients and three HIV-1-uninfected subjects who received the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine between April and November 2021. Pre-vaccination sera were collected between October 2014 and June 2021, post-vaccination sera between June and December 2021. Neutralizing antibodies towards Ad26 were determined by a FACS-based inhibition assay measuring the expression of SARS-CoV-2 spike and adenoviral proteins in HEK293T cells after in-vitro transduction with Ad26.COV2.S or the control ChAdOx1-S. Results: Six out of 15 HIV-1-infected patients failed to develop SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies and four patients developed weak antibody responses after vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S. Pre-vaccination sera of four of the six vaccine non-responders showed neutralizing activity towards Ad26.COV2.S but not toward the ChAdOx1-S vaccine at 1:50 dilution. After Ad26.COV2.S vaccination, 17 of the 18 subjects developed strong Ad26-neutralizing activity and only one of the 18 subjects showed neutralizing activity towards the ChAdOx1-S vaccine. Conclusion: Ad26.COV2.S vaccination showed a high failure rate in HIV-1-infected patients. Pre-existing immunity against Ad26 could be an important contributor to poor vaccine efficacy in a subgroup of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human adenovirus (HAdV), particularly the HAdV type 5 (HAdV-5), has been extensively utilized in the development of vector vaccines due to its high immunogenicity, good safety profile, and ease of propagation. However, one of the main challenges in its use is the presence of pre-existing immunity among vaccine recipients. Pre-existing neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) can prevent the uptake of HAdV-5 vectors and reduce vaccine efficacy. Hence, this study investigated the seroprevalence of NAbs against HAdV-5 in urban and rural regions of the Philippines. Luciferase-based neutralization assay was performed on 391 plasma/serum samples. Out of these samples, 346 or 88.5% were positive for HAdV-5 NAbs, and the majority of them (56.8%) had high titers against the virus. Among the regions included in this study, Bicol (Region V) had the highest seroprevalence rate (94.1%). Our findings show that a significant number of adults in the Philippines have pre-existing immunity against HAdV-5. This supports the recommendation that vaccination programs in the country should consider implementing vaccination techniques, such as a prime-boost regimen or addition of booster doses, to address the potential negative effects of pre-existing HAdV-5 immunity in the efficacy of adenoviral vector-based vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the seropositivity rate of pharmacists and pharmacy staff after the administration of two doses of the CoronaVac-SinoVac vaccine and to assess changes in their antibody levels according to sociodemographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted between June 04, 2021 and September 30, 2021 in pharmacies located in Istanbul, Türkiye. The results of self-initiated immunoglobulin (Ig) G testing of the pharmacists and pharmacy staff, conducted at diagnostic laboratories contracted by the Istanbul Chamber of Pharmacists, were obtained using an online data collection tool. IgG measurements taken from 15 days up to 120 days after the two vaccine doses were included in the study. Participants were asked whether they smoked, had any chronic diseases (hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, diabetes, etc.), or took any medications. Subgroup analyses were performed for each method used to measure antibody levels. Results: The study included 329 pharmacists/pharmacy staff (298 pharmacists and 31 pharmacy staff). The mean age of the participants was 49.7 ± 13.7 years, and 71.4% were female. The antibody positivity of the 329 participants was 94.9% following the two doses. The positivity rate was 95.4% in participants under 65 years of age, whereas it was 91.8% in those aged 65 years and over. There was no significant difference in the mean age between those with positive and negative antibody results (p > 0.05). Although antibody levels were lower older people, smokers, and those with chronic diseases, this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Seropositivity developed following the administration of two doses of CoronaVac-Sinovac vaccines. IgG antibody levels were lower in older adults, smokers, and those with chronic diseases, although not to a statistically significant extent. Further studies are needed to better understand the reasons for the different immunological responses to COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural hypersaline environments are inhabited by an abundance of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms capable of thriving under extreme saline conditions. Yeasts represent a substantial fraction of halotolerant eukaryotic microbiomes and are frequently isolated as food contaminants and from solar salterns. During the last years, a handful of new species has been discovered in moderate saline environments, including estuarine and deep-sea waters. Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae is considered the primary osmoadaptation model system for studies of hyperosmotic stress conditions, our increasing understanding of the physiology and molecular biology of halotolerant yeasts provides new insights into their distinct metabolic traits and provides novel and innovative opportunities for genome mining of biotechnologically relevant genes. Yeast species such as Debaryomyces hansenii, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Hortaea werneckii and Wallemia ichthyophaga show unique properties, which make them attractive for biotechnological applications. Select halotolerant yeasts are used in food processing and contribute to aromas and taste, while certain gene clusters are used in second generation biofuel production. Finally, both pharmaceutical and chemical industries benefit from applications of halotolerant yeasts as biocatalysts. This comprehensive review summarizes the most recent findings related to the biology of industrially-important halotolerant yeasts and provides a detailed and up-to-date description of modern halotolerant yeast-based biotechnological applications., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa resulted in more than 11,000 deaths, highlighting the need for a vaccine. A phase I clinical trial of a human adenovirus type 5 vector-based Ebola virus (EBOV) vaccine (HAdV-5-MakGP) showed that a homologous prime-boost regimen with HAdV-5 vaccine elicited a robust humoral response but a weak cellular immune response. Due to pre-existing anti-vector immunity, boosting with the same vaccine did not increase the magnitude of the cellular immune response, which contributes significantly to protection against EBOV infection. Here, we generated a recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV), based on the LaSota vaccine strain, expressing the GP protein of the EBOV variant Makona (rLS/EB-GP) using reverse genetics technology. The humoral and cellular immune responses to this vaccine candidate in mice immunized using a homologous prime-boost regimen or a heterologous prime-boost regimen with the HAdV-5-vectored Ebola vaccine were assessed using ELISA and ELISPOT assays. The ELISA and ELISPOT results showed that mice primed with rLS/EB-GP and boosted with HAdV-5-MakGP (NDV+HAdV-5) or, reversed, primed with HAdV-5-MakGP and boosted with rLS/EB-GP (HAdV-5+NDV) exhibited more-potent EBOV GP-specific antibody and cellular immune responses than those receiving the same vaccine twice. The most robust EBOV GP-specific antibody and T-cell responses were detected in the HAdV-5-MakGP-primed and rLS/EB-GP-boosted (HAdV-5+NDV) mice. These results suggest that the HAdV-5 prime-NDV boost regimen is more effective in stimulating EBOV-specific immunity than homologous regimens alone, indicating the potential boosting ability of the NDV vector in human vaccine use., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Different microorganisms can produce different proteases, which can adapt to different industrial requirements such as pH, temperature, and pressure. Salt-tolerant proteases (STPs) from microorganisms exhibit higher salt tolerance, wider adaptability, and more efficient catalytic ability under extreme conditions compared to conventional proteases. These unique enzymes hold great promise for applications in various industries including food, medicine, environmental protection, agriculture, detergents, dyes, and others. Scientific studies on microbial-derived STPs have been widely reported, but there has been little systematic review of microbial-derived STPs and their application in high-salt conventional soybean fermentable foods. This review presents the STP-producing microbial species and their selection methods, and summarizes and analyzes the salt tolerance mechanisms of the microorganisms. It also outlines various techniques for the isolation and purification of STPs from microorganisms and discusses the salt tolerance mechanisms of STPs. Furthermore, this review demonstrates the contribution of modern biotechnology in the screening of novel microbial-derived STPs and their improvement in salt tolerance. It highlights the potential applications and commercial value of salt-tolerant microorganisms and STPs in high-salt traditional soy fermented foods. The review ends with concluding remarks on the challenges and future directions for microbial-derived STPs. This review provides valuable insights into the separation, purification, performance enhancement, and application of microbial-derived STPs in traditional fermented foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has recently faced significant difficulties in the exploitation of its shale oil and gas resources. An essential geological obstacle preventing the breakthrough of Chinese shale oil exploration is the precise identification of productive oil and gas pools and ideal formation. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the properties of shale reservoirs. Deep-water fine-grained sedimentary rocks in the lower member of the Well FY1 in Dongying Sag are analyzed using the Milankovitch cycle based on core, geochemical analysis, and gamma logging data. The findings demonstrate that: (1) The entire Milankovitch cycle is preserved in the Es3x of Well FY1 in Dongying Sag, and that the long Eccentricity of 405 ka and the Precession cycle of 23.2 ka are the key controlling factors in the deposition. (2) The "three-end-member" method is used to divide eight different types of lithofacies. The main vertical changes in these lithofacies are from organic massive gray mudstone to organic lamellar callitic mudstone to organic massive gray mudstone to organic lamellar gray mudstone to organic lamellar gray mudstone and back again. From shallow to deep to deeper, the entire water depth fluctuated. (3) Each of the four lengthy Eccentricity cycles has a half-cycle of warm, humid weather and cold, dry weather. Analysis was done on how the lithofacies and organic matter concentration changed with high and small eccentricities. The enrichment of biological materials in warm, wet, dry, and cold climates was hypothesized by examining the response of fine-grain sedimentary rocks to eccentricities and Precession periods. Larger Eccentricity is thought to be more suitable for storing shale oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]