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Life-threatening "breakthrough" cases of critical COVID-19 are attributed to poor or waning antibody (Ab) response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in individuals already at risk. Preexisting auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs underlie at least 15% of critical COVID-19 pneumonia cases in unvaccinated individuals; their contribution to hypoxemic breakthrough cases in vaccinated people is unknown. We studied a cohort of 48 individuals (aged 20 to 86 years) who received two doses of a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine and developed a breakthrough infection with hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia 2 weeks to 4 months later. Ab levels to the vaccine, neutralization of the virus, and auto-Abs to type I IFNs were measured in the plasma. Forty-two individuals had no known deficiency of B cell immunity and a normal Ab response to the vaccine. Among them, 10 (24%) had auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs (aged 43 to 86 years). Eight of these 10 patients had auto-Abs neutralizing both IFN-α2 and IFN-ω, whereas two neutralized IFN-ω only. No patient neutralized IFN-β. Seven neutralized type I IFNs at 10 ng/ml and three at 100 pg/ml only. Seven patients neutralized SARS-CoV-2 D614G and Delta efficiently, whereas one patient neutralized Delta slightly less efficiently. Two of the three patients neutralizing only type I IFNs at 100 pg/ml neutralized both D614G and Delta less efficiently. Despite two mRNA vaccine inoculations and the presence of circulating Abs capable of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2, auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs may underlie a notable proportion of hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia cases, highlighting the importance of this particularly vulnerable population.

Background: Different methods for the extraction of trypsin inhibitors in beans (Phaseolus spp.) were investigated. Two randomised complete laboratory experiments were performed, one on the seeds and one on the pods. In the first, the seeds of common bean variety KIS Marcelijan, breeding line Ref_316 × 498 and runner bean variety Bonela were examined. In the second, the fresh pods of five common beans (three breeding lines, two varieties) were analysed. Four extraction methods were used, including ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) for 15 and 30 min and shaking-assisted extraction for 60 and 180 min. Results: The results showed a significant increase in trypsin inhibitor activity-related traits in UAE compared to shaking extraction, with the 15 min ultrasonic process showing better efficacy than the one with 30 min duration. In the seed experiment, the breeding line Ref_316 × 498 showed the highest Trypsin Units Inhibited (TUI) and TUI/mg sample after a 15 min UAE. In the pod experiment, the breeding line 228_4aa_ca also showed the highest TUI and TUI/mg sample after a 15 min extraction with UAE. These results underline the potential of UAE to maximise trypsin inhibitor content. In addition, remarkable correlations between TUI, TUI/mg sample and the percentage of trypsin inhibition (%TIn) were observed in both experiments. Conclusions: These results provide valuable insights into the relationship between bean genetic resources, extraction methods and trypsin inhibitor content in bean pods and seeds and serve as a basis for refining extraction protocols. The study encourages further research on the practical implications of investigated protocols for breeding programmes and agricultural practices.How to cite: Tavakoli Hasanaklou H, Pipan B, Meglič V, et al. Trypsin inhibitors in seeds and pods of Phaseolus vulgaris/coccineus: A comparative study of shaking and ultrasonic extraction methods. Electron J Biotechnol 2024;71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2024.05.003.

Abstract Background Paediatric palliative and hospice care aims to improve the quality of life of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families. The number of these patients has risen significantly in recent years, resulting in an increased need for palliative care for this population. Although the need for paediatric palliative and hospice care is growing, meaningful outcome evaluation to demonstrate its effectiveness as a complex healthcare intervention is in its early stages. For complex interventions (programmes), theory-based evaluations have grown in prominence in recent years. They seek to understand how and why an intervention works by uncovering its underlying mechanisms by means of programme theory. To support both outcome evaluation in paediatric palliative care and a reflective practice of programme theorizing, we aimed to describe the construction of a programme theory for a specialist paediatric palliative and hospice care programme in Austria and to offer a reflective account of its development process. Methods We drew on a combination of theory-based evaluation frameworks to construct a programme theory consisting of an action and a change component. Through multiple iterations, incorporating different stakeholders’ perspectives and drawing on different sources of knowledge and theory, we theorized how and why the programme likely achieves its intended outcomes. Results The programme theory outlines the proposed chains of events, causal mechanisms and outcomes of a specialist paediatric palliative and hospice care programme for children and families in several areas corresponding to its main conceptual tenets. Through a range of activities and interventions, the programme triggers coping and adaptation mechanisms that ultimately contribute to family and child wellbeing in physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Established trust and partnership between children/families and healthcare professionals as well as a person-centered and family-centered approach were identified as enabling factors. Conclusions Our findings provide insights into how a specialized paediatric palliative and hospice care programme works to achieve its intended outcomes for children and families. This helps demonstrate its impact, contributing to meaningful outcome evaluation and service improvement.