Electronic structure and rovibrational predissociation of the 2sPi state in KLi

Adiabatic potential energy curves of the 3sSigma+, 3tSigma+, 2sPi and 2tPi states correlating for large internuclear distance with the K(4s) + Li(2p) atomic asymptote were calculated. Very good agreement between the calculated and the experimental curve of the 2sPi state allowed for a reliable description of the dissociation process through a small (20 cm-1 for J = 0) potential energy barrier. The barrier supports several rovibrational quasi-bound states and explicit time evolution of these states via the time-dependent nuclear Schroedinger equation, showed that the state populations decay exponentially in time. We were able to precisely describe the time-dependent dissociation process of several rovibrational levels and found that our calculated spectrum match very well with the assigned experimental spectrum. Moreover, our approach is able to predict the positions of previously unassigned lines despite their low intensit

Attitudes of pregnant women and healthcare professionals towards clinical trials and routine implementation of antenatal vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus : a multicenter questionnaire study

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of infant hospitalization and mortality. With multiple vaccines in development, we aimed to determine: (1) the awareness of RSV among pregnant women and healthcare professionals (HCPs), and (2) attitudes toward clinical trials and routine implementation of antenatal RSV vaccination.Methods: Separate questionnaires for pregnant women and HCPs were distributed within 4 hospitals in South England (July 2017–January 2018).Results: Responses from 314 pregnant women and 204 HCPs (18% obstetricians, 75% midwives, 7% unknown) were analyzed. Most pregnant women (88%) and midwives (66%) had no/very little awareness of RSV, unlike obstetricians (14%). Among pregnant women, 29% and 75% would likely accept RSV vaccination as part of a trial, or if routinely recommended, respectively. Younger women (16–24 years), those of 21–30 weeks’ gestation, and with experience of RSV were significantly more likely to participate in trials [odds ratio (OR): 1.42 (1.72–9.86); OR: 2.29 (1.22–4.31); OR: 9.07 (1.62–50.86), respectively]. White-British women and those of 21–30 weeks’ gestation were more likely to accept routinely recommended vaccination [OR: 2.16 (1.07–4.13); OR: 2.10 (1.07–4.13)]. Obstetricians were more likely than midwives to support clinical trials [92% vs. 68%, OR: 2.50 (1.01–6.16)] and routine RSV vaccination [89% vs. 79%, OR: 4.08 (1.53–9.81)], as were those with prior knowledge of RSV, and who deemed it serious.Conclusions: RSV awareness is low among pregnant women and midwives. Education will be required to support successful implementation of routine antenatal vaccination. Research is needed to understand reasons for vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women and HCPs, particularly midwives.<br/

Single-cell multi-omics analysis of the immune response in COVID-19

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Local and systemic responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adults.

It is not fully understood why COVID-19 is typically milder in children1-3. Here, to examine the differences between children and adults in their response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we analysed paediatric and adult patients with COVID-19 as well as healthy control individuals (total n = 93) using single-cell multi-omic profiling of matched nasal, tracheal, bronchial and blood samples. In the airways of healthy paediatric individuals, we observed cells that were already in an interferon-activated state, which after SARS-CoV-2 infection was further induced especially in airway immune cells. We postulate that higher paediatric innate interferon responses restrict viral replication and disease progression. The systemic response in children was characterized by increases in naive lymphocytes and a depletion of natural killer cells, whereas, in adults, cytotoxic T cells and interferon-stimulated subpopulations were significantly increased. We provide evidence that dendritic cells initiate interferon signalling in early infection, and identify epithelial cell states associated with COVID-19 and age. Our matching nasal and blood data show a strong interferon response in the airways with the induction of systemic interferon-stimulated populations, which were substantially reduced in paediatric patients. Together, we provide several mechanisms that explain the milder clinical syndrome observed in children

Single-cell multi-omics analysis of the immune response in COVID-19

Funder: Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001255Funder: University College London, Birkbeck MRC Doctoral Training ProgrammeFunder: The Jikei University School of MedicineFunder: Action Medical Research (GN2779)Funder: NIHR Clinical Lectureship (CL-2017-01-004)Funder: NIHR (ACF-2018-01-004) and the BMA FoundationFunder: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (grant 2017-174169) and from Wellcome (WT211276/Z/18/Z and Sanger core grant WT206194)Funder: UKRI Innovation/Rutherford Fund Fellowship allocated by the MRC and the UK Regenerative Medicine Platform (MR/5005579/1 to M.Z.N.). M.Z.N. and K.B.M. have been funded by the Rosetrees Trust (M944)Funder: Barbour FoundationFunder: ERC Consolidator and EU MRG-Grammar awardsFunder: Versus Arthritis Cure Challenge Research Grant (21777), and an NIHR Research Professorship (RP-2017-08-ST2-002)Funder: European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)Abstract: Analysis of human blood immune cells provides insights into the coordinated response to viral infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We performed single-cell transcriptome, surface proteome and T and B lymphocyte antigen receptor analyses of over 780,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a cross-sectional cohort of 130 patients with varying severities of COVID-19. We identified expansion of nonclassical monocytes expressing complement transcripts (CD16+C1QA/B/C+) that sequester platelets and were predicted to replenish the alveolar macrophage pool in COVID-19. Early, uncommitted CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were primed toward megakaryopoiesis, accompanied by expanded megakaryocyte-committed progenitors and increased platelet activation. Clonally expanded CD8+ T cells and an increased ratio of CD8+ effector T cells to effector memory T cells characterized severe disease, while circulating follicular helper T cells accompanied mild disease. We observed a relative loss of IgA2 in symptomatic disease despite an overall expansion of plasmablasts and plasma cells. Our study highlights the coordinated immune response that contributes to COVID-19 pathogenesis and reveals discrete cellular components that can be targeted for therapy

Anionic states of C6Cl6probed in electron transfer experiments

9 pags., 5 figs., 1 tab.This is the first comprehensive investigation on the anionic species formed during collisions of fast neutral potassium (K) atoms with neutral hexachlorobenzene (CCl) molecules in the laboratory frame range from 10 up to 100 eV. In such ion-pair formation experiments we also report a novel Kenergy loss spectrum obtained in the forward scattering giving evidence of the most accessible electronic states. The vertical electron affinity of (−3.76 ± 0.20) eV has been obtained and assigned to a purely repulsive transition from the CClground state to a state of the temporary negative ion yielding Clformation. These experimental findings are also supported by state-of-the art theoretical calculations on the electronic structure of CClin the presence of a potassium atom and are used for analysing the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals participating in the collision process. From the time-of-flight mass spectra recorded in the wide collision energy range, more than 80% of the total anion yield is due to the undissociated parent anion CCl, CCland Clformation. Other fragment anions such as CCl, CCl, CCland Clthat undergo complex internal reactions with the temporary negative ion formed after electron transfer account for less than 20% of the total yield. The joint experimental and theoretical methodologies employed in these electron transfer studies provide the most comprehensive and unique assignments of the hexachlorobenzene anionic species and the role of CClelectronic states in collision induced dissociation to date.SK acknowledges the Portuguese National Funding Agency (FCT) through PD/BD/142831/2018, and together with PLV the research grants CEFITEC (UIDB/00068/2020) and PTDC/FISAQM/31281/2017. This work was also supported by Radiation Biology and Biophysics Doctoral Training Programme (RaBBiT, PD/00193/2012); UCIBIO (UIDB/04378/2020). All the calculations were performed at the CI TASK Computer Centre in Gdan´sk.The work of MŁ is based upon support from COST Action CA18212 – Molecular Dynamics in the GAS phase (MD-GAS). GG acknowledges partial financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Project No. PID2019-104727RB-C21) and CSIC (Project LINKA20085

Determinants of Influenza and Pertussis Vaccination Uptake in Pregnancy: A Multicenter Questionnaire Study of Pregnant Women and Healthcare Professionals

Introduction: Uptake rates of antenatal vaccination remain suboptimal. Our aims were to determine (1) the acceptability of routine vaccination among pregnant women, (2) the confidence of maternity healthcare professionals (HCPs) discussing vaccination and (3) HCP opinion regarding the optimum healthcare site for vaccine administration. Methods: Separate questionnaires for pregnant women and HCPs were distributed within 4 national health service (NHS) trusts in South England (July 2017 to January 2018). Results: Responses from 314 pregnant women and 204 HCPs (18% obstetricians, 75% midwives, 7% unidentified) were analyzed. Previous/intended uptake of influenza and pertussis vaccination was 78% and 92%, respectively. The commonest reason for declining vaccination was feared side effects for their child. White British women (79%) were significantly more accepting of influenza [85% vs. 61%; odds ratio (OR) 3.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67–6.32] and pertussis vaccination (96% vs. 83%; OR 4.83; 95% CI: 1.77–13.19) compared with nonwhite British women. Among HCPs, 25% were slightly or not at all confident discussing vaccination. Obstetricians felt significantly more confident discussing pertussis vaccination than midwives (68% vs. 55% were very/moderately confident; OR 2.05; 95% CI: 1.02–4.12). Among HCPs, 53%, 25% and 16% thought vaccines should be administered in primary care (general practice), community midwifery and in hospital, respectively. Conclusion: Misconceptions exist regarding safety/efficacy of antenatal vaccination, and framing information towards the child’s safety may increase uptake. Education of HCPs is essential, and vaccine promotion should be incorporated into routine antenatal care, with an emphasis on women from ethnic minorities. Administration of vaccines in primary care presents logistical barriers; however, support for alternative sites appears low among HCPs