Background We evaluated our SARS-CoV-2 prefusion spike recombinant protein vaccine (CoV2 preS dTM) with different adjuvants, unadjuvanted, and in a one-injection and two-injection dosing schedule in a previous phase 1–2 study. Based on interim results from that study, we selected a two-injection schedule and the AS03 adjuvant for further clinical development. However, lower than expected antibody responses, particularly in older adults, and higher than expected reactogenicity after the second vaccination were observed. In the current study, we evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of an optimised formulation of CoV2 preS dTM adjuvanted with AS03 to inform progression to phase 3 clinical trial. Methods This phase 2, randomised, parallel-group, dose-ranging study was done in adults (≥18 years old), including those with pre-existing medical conditions, those who were immunocompromised (except those with recent organ transplant or chemotherapy) and those with a potentially increased risk for severe COVID-19, at 20 clinical research centres in the USA and Honduras. Women who were pregnant or lactating or, for those of childbearing potential, not using an effective method of contraception or abstinence, and those who had received a COVID-19 vaccine, were excluded. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) using an interactive response technology system, with stratification by age (18–59 years and ≥60 years), rapid serodiagnostic test result (positive or negative), and high-risk medical conditions (yes or no), to receive two injections (day 1 and day 22) of 5 7mu;g (low dose), 10 7mu;g (medium dose), or 15 7mu;g (high dose) CoV2 preS dTM antigen with fixed AS03 content. All participants and outcome assessors were masked to group assignment; unmasked study staff involved in vaccine preparation were not involved in safety outcome assessments. All laboratory staff performing the assays were masked to treatment. The primary safety objective was to describe the safety profile in all participants, for each candidate vaccine formulation. Safety endpoints were evaluated for all randomised participants who received at least one dose of the study vaccine (safety analysis set), and are presented here for the interim study period (up to day 43). The primary immunogenicity objective was to describe the neutralising antibody titres to the D614G variant 14 days after the second vaccination (day 36) in participants who were SARS-CoV-2 naive who received both injections, provided samples at day 1 and day 36, did not have protocol deviations, and did not receive an authorised COVID-19 vaccine before day 36. Neutralising antibodies were measured using a pseudovirus neutralisation assay and are presented here up to 14 days after the second dose. As a secondary immunogenicity objective, we assessed neutralising antibodies in non-naive participants. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04762680) and is closed to new participants for the cohort reported here. ...

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In this article, we demonstrated an extremely high-sensitivity formaldehyde (HCHO) gas sensor, where the graphene oxide (GO) in situ modified two-dimensional (2D) SnO2 nanosheets with in-plane mesopores were utilized as the sensing materials. The sensor response (R a/R g) was larger than 2000 toward 100 ppm HCHO at 60 °C. In addition, the selectivity for detecting HCHO was excellent against other interferences including ethanol, acetone, methanol, toluene, ammonia, water, etc. The outstanding sensing performance of 2D mesoporous GO/SnO2 nanosheets was attributed to the synergism of the sensitizer effect of GO, large surface areas of 2D nanostructure, suitable particle size, and abundant in-plane mesopores. The high sensitivity, high selectivity, and low working temperature of the sensor reported here endowed it a great potential in selective detection of HCHO. Meanwhile, the design and synthesis of GO/SnO2 nanocomposites will provide new paradigms in the future development of HCHO-sensitive materials.

Background Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV2) causes genital herpes in >400 million persons worldwide. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of a replication-defective HSV2 vaccine, HSV529. Twenty adults were enrolled in each of 3 serogroups of individuals: those negative for both HSV1 and HSV2 (HSV1−/HSV2−), those positive or negative for HSV1 and positive for HSV2 (HSV1±/HSV2+), and those positive for HSV1 and negative for HSV2 (HSV1+/HSV2−). Sixty participants received vaccine or placebo at 0, 1, and 6 months. The primary end point was the frequency of solicited local and systemic reactions to vaccination. Results Eighty-nine percent of vaccinees experienced mild-to-moderate solicited injection site reactions, compared with 47% of placebo recipients (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.9%–67.6%; P = .006). Sixty-four percent of vaccinees experienced systemic reactions, compared with 53% of placebo recipients (95% CI, −17.9% to 40.2%; P = .44). Seventy-eight percent of HSV1−/HSV2− vaccine recipients had a ≥4-fold increase in neutralizing antibody titer after 3 doses of vaccine, whereas none of the participants in the other serogroups had such responses. HSV2-specific CD4+ T-cell responses were detected in 36%, 46%, and 27% of HSV1−/HSV2−, HSV1±/HSV2+, and HSV1+/HSV2− participants, respectively, 1 month after the third dose of vaccine, and CD8+ T-cell responses were detected in 14%, 8%, and 18% of participants, respectively. Conclusions HSV529 vaccine was safe and elicited neutralizing antibody and modest CD4+ T-cell responses in HSV-seronegative vaccinees. Clinical Trials Registration NCT01915212.

This study demonstrated that the hydrolysate of Alaska pollack skin was mainly composed of oligopeptides with two to eight amino acid residues and possessed antioxidant activity.