Controversy surrounding the Sputnik V vaccine

Article Medicine, General & Internal

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK

Merryn Voysey et al.

Summary: The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine has been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19, with higher efficacy observed in the group that received a low dose followed by a standard dose.

LANCET (2021)

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Review Virology

Lead SARS-CoV-2 Candidate Vaccines: Expectations from Phase III Trials and Recommendations Post-Vaccine Approval

Ebenezer Tumban

Summary: SARS-CoV-2 candidate vaccines targeting the spike protein are showing promising results in phase I/II trials, with some already granted emergency use authorization. Expectations are high for phase III trials and recommendations for post-approval phase IV studies.

VIRUSES-BASEL (2021)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant by convalescent and vaccine sera

Piyada Supasa et al.

Summary: Research on the UK-dominant variant B.1.1.7 shows that it is harder to neutralize than the parental virus, but widespread escape from antibodies or monoclonal antibodies has not been observed yet.

CELL (2021)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Evidence of escape of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.351 from natural and vaccine-induced sera

Daming Zhou et al.

Summary: The race to develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1, is ongoing as these variants have mutations in the spike protein, potentially leading to immune escape. A structure-function analysis of B.1.351 revealed tighter ACE2 binding and widespread evasion from monoclonal antibody neutralization, particularly driven by the E484K mutation.

CELL (2021)

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Letter Medicine, General & Internal

Emergence of a Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variant in Southern California

Wenjuan Zhang et al.

Summary: The research focused on sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of SARS-CoV-2 isolates from symptomatic patients at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in November-December 2020, providing insights into a surge in cases and hospitalizations during that period.

JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (2021)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

Approaches for Optimal Use of Different COVID-19 Vaccines Issues of Viral Variants and Vaccine Efficacy

John P. Moore

Summary: Given the emergence of coronavirus variants and the authorization of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, strategies to maximize vaccine efficacy and distribution include reserving the vaccine for young healthy populations, boosting with a single-dose mRNA vaccine, and single mRNA immunization for those with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Safety and efficacy of an rAd26 and rAd5 vector-based heterologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccine: an interim analysis of a randomised controlled phase 3 trial in Russia

Denis Y. Logunov et al.

Summary: The Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine showed 91.6% efficacy against COVID-19 in the phase 3 trial, with good safety and tolerability in a large cohort of participants.

LANCET (2021)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

SARS-CoV-2 variants and ending the COVID-19 pandemic

Arnaud Fontanet et al.

LANCET (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Mass Vaccination Setting

Noa Dagan et al.

Summary: A study conducted in Israel on nearly 600,000 individuals showed that the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was effective in reducing the risk of infection, hospitalization, and severe Covid-19. The effectiveness in preventing death was 72% during the period from day 14 through day 20 after the first dose, and hospitalization was reduced by 87% for the period 7 or more days after the second dose, similar to results from a randomized trial.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2021)

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Editorial Material Multidisciplinary Sciences

Market design to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine supply

Juan Camilo Castillo et al.

SCIENCE (2021)

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Editorial Material Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Disrupting vaccine logistics

Eric R. James

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH (2021)

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Review Immunology

SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies: A Network Meta-Analysis across Vaccines

Paola Rogliani et al.

Summary: This study compared the efficacy of different COVID-19 vaccines in inducing neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Some vaccines showed different levels of neutralizing antibody efficacy. AZD1222 and mRNA-1237 were tested in elderly patients and have the advantage of rapid re-engineering to mimic new mutations of SARS-CoV-2 compared to AZD1222.

VACCINES (2021)

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Review Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Novel approaches for vaccine development

Makda S. Gebre et al.

Summary: Vaccines are crucial for global health, with traditional methods being successful in many cases but facing challenges such as persistent infections and emerging pathogens. Novel technologies like nucleic acid and viral vector vaccines have the potential to revolutionize vaccine development.

CELL (2021)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Antibody evasion by the P.1 strain of SARS-CoV-2

Wanwisa Dejnirattisai et al.

Summary: Ending the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic requires global vaccination. New virus strains with mutations impact antibody responses, but some variants are less resistant than others. A monoclonal antibody can neutralize different variants and partially restore neutralization potency for other public antibodies.

CELL (2021)

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Review Immunology

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 variants on vaccine efficacy and response strategies

Lianlian Bian et al.

Summary: The global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the emergence of several variants, posing challenges to vaccine efficacy. However, some vaccines have shown advantages in providing protection against certain variants. Response strategies have been proposed to address the challenges posed by emerging variants, including accelerating the rollout of current vaccines, enhancing vaccine immunogenicity, and developing next-generation vaccines targeting the variants.

EXPERT REVIEW OF VACCINES (2021)

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Letter Medicine, General & Internal

Data discrepancies and substandard reporting of interim data of Sputnik V phase 3 trial REPLY

Denis Y. Logunov et al.

LANCET (2021)

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Letter Medicine, General & Internal

Data discrepancies and substandard reporting of interim data of Sputnik V phase 3 trial

Enrico M. Bucci et al.

LANCET (2021)

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Letter Infectious Diseases

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 spike variants bind human ACE2 with increased affinity

Muthukumar Ramanathan et al.

LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia after ChAdOx1 nCov-19 Vaccination

Andreas Greinacher et al.

Summary: After vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCov-19, rare immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia can occur due to platelet-activating antibodies against PF4, resulting in various thrombotic events. Most patients in this case series were women, with fatal outcomes such as cerebral venous thrombosis and intracranial hemorrhage. Additional studies are needed to further investigate and understand this phenomenon.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Sputnik V vaccine goes global

Graham Lawton

NEW SCIENTIST (2021)

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Review Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

COVID-19 vaccines for low- and middle-income countries

Edward M. Choi

Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic poses the biggest threat to public health in a century. While scientists have developed safe and effective vaccines, there is a global disparity in vaccine distribution due to high demand and limited supply. This review highlights the challenges faced by low- and middle-income countries in accessing and distributing COVID-19 vaccines.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE (2021)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

Covid-19: What do we know about Sputnik V and other Russian vaccines?

Chris Baraniuk

BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL (2021)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

Covid-19: Sputnik vaccine rockets, thanks to Lancet boost

Christoffer van Tulleken

BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL (2021)

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Article Immunology

Factors Influencing the Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Quantitative Synthesis of Phase III Trials

Luigino Calzetta et al.

Summary: The study evaluated the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and potential influencing factors, finding overall positive results but some heterogeneity, with age possibly influencing mRNA-based vaccines. However, no significant modifying factors were identified overall.

VACCINES (2021)

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Article Hematology

Anti-Platelet Factor 4 Antibodies Causing VITT do not Cross-React with SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

Andreas Greinacher et al.

BLOOD (2021)

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Article Microbiology

SARS-CoV-2 spike L452R variant evades cellular immunity and increases infectivity

Chihiro Motozono et al.

Summary: Research has shown that certain mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants can escape HLA-restricted cellular immunity, increase affinity for host cells, promote viral replication, and potentially affect the evolution of viral phenotypes.

CELL HOST & MICROBE (2021)

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Article Otorhinolaryngology

COVID-19 Vaccinations: Replicating or Non-replicating? The Vector in Sputnik-V

L. Klimek et al.

LARYNGO-RHINO-OTOLOGIE (2021)

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News Item Multidisciplinary Sciences

MOUNTING EVIDENCE SUGGESTS SPUTNIK COVID VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE

Bianca Nogrady

NATURE (2021)

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Letter Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern are emerging in India

Jasdeep Singh et al.

NATURE MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers

Moriah Bergwerk et al.

Summary: Among fully vaccinated health care workers, breakthrough infections with SARS-CoV-2 were correlated with neutralizing antibody titers during the peri-infection period. Most breakthrough infections were mild or asymptomatic, although persistent symptoms did occur.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2021)

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Editorial Material Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Disputes over the production and dissemination of misinformation in the time of COVID-19

Mario Cazzola et al.

Summary: The lack of cure for COVID-19 has led to a rise in medical misinformation, particularly surrounding the treatment of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients, posing risks that stem from inaccurately published studies.

RESPIRATORY MEDICINE (2021)

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Review Virology

The Spike of Concern-The Novel Variants of SARS-CoV-2

Anna Winger et al.

Summary: The high sequence identity of the initial SARS-CoV-2 samples collected in Wuhan in December 2019 did not predict the emergence of novel variants in different regions around the world. The viral spike receptor has two areas of high mutagenic plasticity, with mutations mainly focusing on the N-terminal domain and receptor binding domain. The evolution of spike mutations, including the characteristic D614G mutation, continues to drive the development of new variants.

VIRUSES-BASEL (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Neutralizing activity of Sputnik V vaccine sera against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Satoshi Ikegame et al.

Summary: The authors characterize the neutralizing capacity of post-Sputnik V vaccination sera against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern B.1.1.7 (alpha) and B.1.351 (beta), showing the latter to exhibit resistance to neutralization in vitro.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Article Immunology

Neutralizing Activity of Sera from Sputnik V-Vaccinated People against Variants of Concern (VOC: B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.617.2, B.1.617.3) and Moscow Endemic SARS-CoV-2 Variants

Vladimir A. Gushchin et al.

Summary: Since the beginning of 2021, all the main six vaccines against COVID-19 have been used in mass vaccination globally. Concerns have been raised regarding the decreasing virus neutralization and epidemiological efficacy against certain genotypes, and further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of the Sputnik V vaccine against variants of concern.

VACCINES (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

ROCCA observational study: Early results on safety of Sputnik V vaccine (Gam-COVID-Vac) in the Republic of San Marino using active surveillance

Marco Montalti et al.

Summary: A study conducted in San Marino on Sputnik V vaccine recipients showed that it is well tolerated in individuals aged 60 years and above, with an AEFI incidence of around 76% for two-dose recipients.

ECLINICALMEDICINE (2021)

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Article Cell Biology

Sputnik V vaccine elicits seroconversion and neutralizing capacity to SARS-CoV-2 after a single dose

Andres H. Rossi et al.

Summary: The study evaluated the antibody responses of healthcare workers in Argentina after receiving the Sputnik V vaccine, showing that previously infected individuals had higher levels of antibodies and virus-neutralizing capacity after receiving a single dose of the vaccine.

CELL REPORTS MEDICINE (2021)

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Review Infectious Diseases

COVID-19 Vaccination in Developing Nations: Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation

Abu Baker Sheikh et al.

Summary: Vaccines offer hope to end the global pandemic, but developing nations face challenges in procurement and distribution. Inequities in vaccine access are evident, with resource-rich nations securing most of the available doses.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE REPORTS (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal