Immunogenicity and safety of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in a cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes

Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) may develop severe outcomes during COVID-19 disease, but their ability to generate an immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines remains to be established. Here we evaluated the safety, immunogenicity and glycometabolic effects of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in patients with T1D. A total of 375 patients, 326 with T1D and 49 non-diabetics, who received two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines (mRNA-1273, BNT162b2) between March and April 2021 at the ASST FBF-Sacco Milan, Italy, were included in this monocentric observational study (NCT04905823). Local and systemic adverse events were reported in both groups after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination without statistical differences between them. While both T1D patients and non-diabetic subjects exhibited a parallel increase in anti-SARS-CoV-2S titers after vaccination, the vast majority of T1D patients (70% and 78% respectively) did not show any increase in the SARS-CoV-2-specific cytotoxic response as compared to the robust increased observed in all non-diabetic subjects. A reduced secretion of the T cell-related cytokines IL-2 and TNF-alpha in vaccinated patients with T1D was also observed. No glycometabolic alterations were evident in patients with T1D using continuous glucose monitoring during follow-up. Administration of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine is associated with an impaired cellular SARS-CoV-2-specific cytotoxic immune response in T1D patients

Correlation between experimental and DFT calculations of photocatalytic and optical properties of La0.8Nd0.1Sr0.1MnO3 perovskite: degradation efficiency of methyl orange dye under visible-irradiated conditions

La0.8Nd0.1Sr0.1MnO3 perovskite was synthesized using the citrate gel method. The crystal structure was studied by X-ray diffraction. The Rietveld refinement reveals a single R-3C rhombohedral structure. The morphological properties were investigated by a scanning electron microscopy, connected to an energy-dispersive X-ray detector for mapping and elements composition, showing a sponge-like structure behavior of agglomerated particles. The band gap energy and the optical properties were studied theoretically by Density-Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. It showed that La0.8Nd0.1Sr0.1MnO3 exhibited a high photoabsorption property with band gap energy of ≈ 2.5\ua0eV. The methyl orange (MO) degradation properties were studied by measuring time-dependent UV–Visible absorption of the dye solution. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated at different times under visible light and ambient temperature conditions for La0.8Nd0.1Sr0.1MnO3 solution. A high degradation rate of 80% in 120\ua0min under UV irradiation conditions was observed. It indicated that La0.8Nd0.1Sr0.1MnO3 presents high photocatalytic efficiency and could be a good candidate for MO degradation

The effect of using fresh farmyard manure (animal manure) on the severity of Fusarium verticilioides in soil, root, stem, and kernels as well as lodging and borer incidence of maize plants

Fusarium verticillioides, an important maize pathogen, produce fumonisins, causes stalk rot and consequentially reduce crop growth and yield. Therefore, herein we aimed to evaluate the potential use of two farmyard soil organic manures, i.e., fresh (5-6 days old) and stored (5-6 months old) organic manure, to manage F. verticillioides infections as well as borer incidence and lodging in maize plants. After 30, 60, and 90 days of sowing, samples of soil, roots, and stems were collected to isolate F. verticillioides. Moreover, we estimated ear and kernel rot induced by F. verticillioides at the final harvest. Fresh organic manure treatment increased infection rates of F. verticillioides in soil, roots, stem and kernels compared to the control treatment. In contrast, stored organic manure plots treatments decrease F. verticillioides frequency. At 90 days after sowing, stored organic manure suppressed the survival of F. verticillioides, which reduced the F. verticillioides incidence percent. These results were similar to the effect of herbicides-and insecticide-treated plots demonstrated, which show a significant decrease in F. verticillioides incidence rates. Mycological analysis on symptomless kernels revealed a higher % of pathogen infection in opened husks variety (Balady) than closed husks variety (SC10). Compared with stored organic manure, the stem borer incidence and lodging percentage were the highest in fresh organic manure plots. Finally, these results demonstrated that storing organic manure within five to six months as farmyard manure led to high-temperature centigrade within organic manure, thereby destroying spores of F. verticillioides, whereas fresh organic manure did not.</jats:p