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As of 25 January 2022, over 349 million individuals have received a confirmed diagnosis of covid-19, with over 5.59 million confirmed deaths associated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The covid-19 pandemic has prompted an extensive global effort to study the molecular evolution of the virus and develop vaccines to prevent its spread. Although rigorous determination of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity remains elusive, owing to the continuous evolution of the virus, steps have been made to understand its genome, structure, and emerging genetic mutations. The SARS-CoV-2 genome is composed of several open reading frames and structural proteins, including the spike protein, which is essential for entry into host cells. As of 25 January 2022, the World Health Organization has reported five variants of concern, two variants of interest, and three variants under monitoring. Additional sublineages have since been identified, and are being monitored. The mutations harboured in these variants confer an increased transmissibility, severity of disease, and escape from neutralising antibodies compared with the primary strain. The current vaccine strategy, including booster doses, provides protection from severe disease. As of 24 January 2022, 33 vaccines have been approved for use in 197 countries. In this review, we discuss the genetics, structure, and transmission methods of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, highlighting how mutations provide enhanced abilities to spread and inflict disease. This review also outlines the vaccines currently in use around the world, providing evidence for every vaccine's immunogenicity and effectiveness.

Background A rapid, accurate, non-invasive diagnostic screen is needed to identify people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We investigated whether organic semi-conducting (OSC) sensors and trained dogs could distinguish between people infected with asymptomatic or mild symptoms, and uninfected individuals, and the impact of screening at ports-of-entry. Methods Odour samples were collected from adults, and SARS-CoV-2 infection status confirmed using RT-PCR. OSC sensors captured the volatile organic compound (VOC) profile of odour samples. Trained dogs were tested in a double-blind trial to determine their ability to detect differences in VOCs between infected and uninfected individuals, with sensitivity and specificity as the primary outcome. Mathematical modelling was used to investigate the impact of bio-detection dogs for screening. Results About, 3921 adults were enrolled in the study and odour samples collected from 1097 SARS-CoV-2 infected and 2031 uninfected individuals. OSC sensors were able to distinguish between SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and uninfected, with sensitivity from 98% (95% CI 95–100) to 100% and specificity from 99% (95% CI 97–100) to 100%. Six dogs were able to distinguish between samples with sensitivity ranging from 82% (95% CI 76–87) to 94% (95% CI 89–98) and specificity ranging from 76% (95% CI 70–82) to 92% (95% CI 88–96). Mathematical modelling suggests that dog screening plus a confirmatory PCR test could detect up to 89% of SARS-CoV-2 infections, averting up to 2.2 times as much transmission compared to isolation of symptomatic individuals only. Conclusions People infected with SARS-CoV-2, with asymptomatic or mild symptoms, have a distinct odour that can be identified by sensors and trained dogs with a high degree of accuracy. Odour-based diagnostics using sensors and/or dogs may prove a rapid and effective tool for screening large numbers of people. Trial Registration NCT04509713 (clinicaltrials.gov).

Lightning talk presentation made during the virtual SLA Midwest Symposium on June 10, 2022 about CAMA (Chicago Area Medical Archivists), including milestones from its 20 year history. / Presentation also made on-site (with minor updates) during the Midwest/Medical Library Association meeting on October 24, 2022 under the alternate title: "20 Years of Local Informal Network Support and Shared Expertise: Chicago Area Medical Archivists (CAMA)".

My portion of the Midwest Archives Conference presentation from session #501, "Seeing the Details in the Big Picture: Getting a Handle on Processing." Abstract: Archival collections come in all sizes, formats, and subjects, and it is impossible for any archival education program to cover all situations that professional archivists encounter. Most arrangement and description standards work best when applied to collections of a certain size; other collections pose unique challenges that lie beyond the scope of these standards. Plans can (and often do) change as collections are processed and as researchers and others put them to use. This panel will discuss strategies and techniques for processing large and small collections on both macro and micro levels and their long-term impact on users. We will draw on our experiences with manuscript and records collections of varying sizes to discuss the use of MPLP and other processing techniques and share some of our methods for dealing with the nitty-gritty details of everyday processing. Proper planning is essential to processing and paramount when a collection comprises hundreds of linear feet, yet it is often difficult to develop and implement processing plans when drawing on your experience alone. This session will be useful to all archivists staring down their own unprocessed backlogs and prospective archivists curious about the daily work behind that ever-nebulous term “processing.”

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