SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain displayed on HBsAg virus–like particles elicits protective immunity in macaques

Authorized vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 remain less available in low- and middle-income countries due to insufficient supply, high costs, and storage requirements. Global immunity could still benefit from new vaccines using widely available, safe adjuvants, such as alum and protein subunits, suited to low-cost production in existing manufacturing facilities. Here, a clinical-stage vaccine candidate comprising a SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain–hepatitis B surface antigen virus–like particle elicited protective immunity in cynomolgus macaques. Titers of neutralizing antibodies (>104) induced by this candidate were above the range of protection for other licensed vaccines in nonhuman primates. Including CpG 1018 did not significantly improve the immunological responses. Vaccinated animals challenged with SARS-CoV-2 showed reduced median viral loads in bronchoalveolar lavage (~3.4 log10) and nasal mucosa (~2.9 log10) versus sham controls. These data support the potential benefit of this design for a low-cost modular vaccine platform for SARS-CoV-2 and other variants of concern or betacoronaviruses

Validation and Banding of the ItchyQuant: A Self-Report Itch Severity Scale

Because of the significant emotional and psychosocial impact of chronic pruritus, it is important to accurately assess and measure itch severity. This study aims to validate and apply clinically meaningful bands to the ItchyQuant, an illustrated self-report numeric rating scale (NRS) for itch severity. A total of 76 adults with chronic pruritus were recruited. Participants rated their itch on the ItchyQuant, on a traditional 11-point NRS, and with verbal categorizations (no, mild, moderate, or severe). There was a significant, high correlation between the ItchyQuant and NRS (>0.92, P < 0.0001), demonstrating concurrent validity. Significantly more patients (47.2%) preferred the ItchyQuant than the NRS (23.6%) or had no preference (29.2%), P = 0.0015. Significantly more patients found the ItchyQuant easier to use (45.8%) than the NRS (20.8%) or had no preference (33.3%), P = 0.008. The set of clinically meaningful bands with the highest weighted kappa coefficient of agreement (κ = 0.69) was as follows: 0 (no itch), 1-3 (mild itch), 4-7 (moderate itch), 8-10 (severe itch). The ItchyQuant is a clinically meaningful measure of itch severity, demonstrating face and concurrent validity, that many patients prefer and find easier to use when compared with a traditional NRS. We suggest that the ItchyQuant can be added to the existing armamentarium of itch severity scales. We plan to investigate the ItchyQuant further in cognitively challenged populations

Book of Abstracts: 2019 Health Equity Summer Research Summit Organized by the Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training and Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA on June 18th, 2019

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