Camelids, including alpacas express single-chain antibodies (nanobodies) that bind to their targets with high affinity and specificity. Their small size makes them amenable to cloning and manipulation and they are in development for many applications including as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. In this project, a panel of alpaca-derived nanobodies was raised against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

Systemic genome data mining of SARS-CoV-2 can benefit the researchers to understand the virus epidemiology, and subsequently disease management. Global consensus articulates that vaccine is likely to be the most effective approach. There has been an extraordinary coordinated research effort that has resulted in the rapid development of vaccine candidates. This has included conventional vaccine technologies such as viral vectors and adjuvanted subunits, but we have witnessed a renaissance in the field nucleic acid based vaccine (mRNA vaccines). Gennova's COVID-19 vaccine candidate - HGCO19, is a complex of mRNA and nano-lipid carrier. mRNA acts as a drug substance, and the nano-lipid system is a carrier molecule for its efficient delivery. mRNA-based vaccine platform offers various advantages compared to the traditional platforms. This platform technology has the potential to combat current and future pandemic outbreaks and the endemic stage that will follow.

RNA structures are pivotal to the regulation of viral RNA genomes. By using next-generation sequencing-based (NGS) technologies, we analyzed the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome both in vitro and in living cells. Our analysis identified highly conserved coronavirus RNA elements, folding into well-defined structures, as well as regions dynamically folding into mutually-exclusive conformations. Collectively, our work lays the foundation for the development of innovative RNA-targeted therapeutic strategies to fight SARS-related infections.

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that causes the respiratory disease known as COVID-19. Despite the urgent need, we still do not fully understand the molecular basis of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. I will discuss our efforts to comprehensively define the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 proteins and human RNAs.

RNA structures are pivotal to the regulation of viral RNA genomes. By using next-generation sequencing-based (NGS) technologies, we analyzed the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome both in vitro and in living cells. Our analysis identified highly conserved coronavirus RNA elements, folding into well-defined structures, as well as regions dynamically folding into mutually-exclusive conformations. Collectively, our work lays the foundation for the development of innovative RNA-targeted therapeutic strategies to fight SARS-related infections.

SARS-CoV-2 virions are enveloped and vary in size between 60 to 120 nanometers. The envelope of the virus hosts three major structural proteins which include S the large 160kD protein spike, M which consists of three helices that span the membrane and E which is a single pass helix. In my talk, I will present a summary of AFM and fluorescent experiments on these purified VLPs and highlight the surprising things we learned during the process.

We will present the work we are performing with the use of two types of arrays. The profiling of a human DNA array (PMDA) in SARS-CoV-2-infected (with different levels of COVID-19 severity) and population cohorts is being explored by us in a preliminary evaluation of the current value of predictive risk scores (PRS).

Host responses to SARS-CoV-2 are dynamic and complex. Here I will present applications of advanced proteomics technologies to interrogate host responses in the sera, urine and tissue specimens from COVID-19 patients. By proteomic comparison of immune responses between severe and non-severe cases in sera and urine specimens, we showed the feasibility to develop protein-based machine learning models to classify severe cases. We also identified characteristic serological immune responses of COVID-19 patients with prolonged disease course and extraordinary IgM positivity. Our proteomic analyses of COVID-19 specimens nominated potential intervention strategies that may be exploited to facilitate therapeutics against COVID-19.

Comprehensive profiling of humoral antibody response to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus-2 (CoV-2) proteins is essential in understanding the host immunity and in developing diagnostic tests and vaccines. To address this concern, we developed a SARS-CoV-2 proteome peptide microarray to analyze antibody interactions at the amino acid resolution. All the results demonstrate the utility of our microarray as a platform to determine the changes of antibody responses in COVID-19 patients and animal models as well as to identify potential targets for diagnosis and treatment.

Organoids derived from adult stem cells (ASCs) retain most features of the source tissue, including cellular heterogeneity and genetic stability. Human intestinal organoids (IOs) are increasingly used to model human disease and are amenable to most genetic engineering techniques. We have employed IOs to evidence the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to replicate in the human gut, explaining extensive gastrointestinal symptoms observed in COVID-19 patients. These findings could evaluate host factors as drug targets and identify novel regulators of their expression.

The COVID-19 global pandemic brought on in late 2019 by the emergence of human infectivity of the coronavirus SARS-Co-V2 came almost a century after the similarly catastrophic global "Spanish flu" pandemic caused by the influenza virus H1N1.  In the intervening period many tools have been introduced into the clinical and public health landscape such as serologic testing, PCR-based molecular testing of individual specimens, wastewater-based molecular epidemiology, and viral genomic sequencing.  This lecture will explore what role, if any, these tools have played in the clinical management of the disease and the public health response to the health crisis.

Consumer wearable devices that continuously measure vital signs have been used to monitor the onset of infectious disease. We show that data from consumer smartwatches can be used for the pre-symptomatic detection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We analysed physiological and activity data from 32 individuals infected with COVID-19, identified from a cohort of nearly 5,300 participants, and found that 26 of them (81%) had alterations in their heart rate, number of daily steps or time asleep. Our findings suggest that activity tracking and health monitoring via consumer wearable devices may be used for the large-scale, real-time detection of respiratory infections, often pre-symptomatically.

Early detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection is critical to reduce asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread of COVID-19, curb the spread of viral variants by travelers, and maximize efficacy of therapeutic treatments. We designed a study to evaluate the preferred test sensitivity and sample type (saliva and nasal swab) for detecting early infections of COVID-19. Our results indicate that both sampling site and test sensitivity must be considered to ensure early detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection: high-sensitivity tests that use saliva can detect SARS-CoV-2 infection days earlier than low-sensitivity tests that use nasal swabs.

Atlas Genomics, a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory, will present on the evolution of a molecular diagnostic facility expanding from a brick and mortar operation in Seattle, Washington to deployment of full-service mobile units across the US.    Our relationship with Thermo Fisher Scientific enabled a rapid pivot from a focus on women’s health laboratory services to a high volume, RT-PCR operation supporting local, state and federal regulatory entities through several programs including community access COVID-19 test sites, Assisted Living Facilities, Department of Corrections/Health Department operations, and school testing.   Atlas Genomics developed mobile laboratory units to address the critical needs for improved turnaround times, within hours, and is able to achieve these metrics through our strategically located units across several states.

Systemic genome data mining of SARS-CoV-2 can benefit the researchers to understand the virus epidemiology, and subsequently disease management. Global consensus articulates that vaccine is likely to be the most effective approach. There has been an extraordinary coordinated research effort that has resulted in the rapid development of vaccine candidates. This has included conventional vaccine technologies such as viral vectors and adjuvanted subunits, but we have witnessed a renaissance in the field nucleic acid based vaccine (mRNA vaccines). Gennova's COVID-19 vaccine candidate - HGCO19, is a complex of mRNA and nano-lipid carrier. mRNA acts as a drug substance, and the nano-lipid system is a carrier molecule for its efficient delivery. mRNA-based vaccine platform offers various advantages compared to the traditional platforms. This platform technology has the potential to combat current and future pandemic outbreaks and the endemic stage that will follow.

The SARS-COV2 pandemic made painfully clear that the world was, despite longtime warnings from virologist and epidemiologists, not at all prepared for a pandemic. In this webinar I will first explain how epidemics and pandemics may develop from local zoonotic outbreaks. I will then sketch how this pandemic could have been avoided, as was recently also stipulated by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.

Rapid Antigen Detection (RAD) test is less time consuming than RT-qPCR, however it has less sensitivity than the gold standard to detect viral particles. In this study, we have developed a rapid and sensitive flow virometric assay aimed at SARS-CoV-2 detection, based on RNA staining, spike protein detection and light scatter properties of virus particles.

Camelids, including alpacas express single-chain antibodies (nanobodies) that bind to their targets with high affinity and specificity. Their small size makes them amenable to cloning and manipulation and they are in development for many applications including as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. In this project, a panel of alpaca-derived nanobodies was raised against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

Host cell modulation is a crucial aspect of viral replication. Changes integrate cell modulation by viral proteins to aid replication and cellular defense mechanisms. Understanding these processes is crucial to modulate viral replication and the identification of drugs. This presentation will introduce global quantitative proteomics approaches to study host cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues, reports have demonstrated neurologic sequelae following COVID-19 recovery. Mechanisms to explain long-term neurological sequelae are unknown and need to be identified. Plasma from 24 individuals recovering from COVID-19 at 1 to 3 months after initial infection were collected for cytokine and antibody levels and neuronal enriched extracellular vesicle (nEV) protein cargo analyses. Plasma cytokine IL-4 was increased in all COVID-19 participants. This study suggests ongoing peripheral and neuroinflammation after COVID-19 infection that may influence neurological sequelae by altering nEV protein. Individuals recovering from COVID-19 may have occult neural damage while those with demonstrative neurological symptoms additionally had more severe infection.

mRNA-based vaccine platforms offer various advantages compared to traditional platforms. This platform technology has the potential to combat current and future pandemic outbreaks and the endemic stage that will follow. This 'pandemic ready' platform technology proposes a rapid development path that will also empower the nation for combating future pandemic outbreaks or any mutant form of the current SARS-CoV-2 virus.