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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has caused a massive impact on the entire world. Healthcare systems, economies, and social lives have already been overwhelmed. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), having been COVID-free for around two and a half months in the middle of the pandemic, is now facing a second wave of the infection after easing its preventive measures. Early implementation of precautions may dramatically reduce COVID-19 infections, but the virus is not eliminated. Additionally, the phenomenon "pandemic fatigue" introduced by the WHO is contributing to a significant decline in compliance with mitigation behaviors globally. With vaccines now rolling out, there is a reason to hope that there is an end in sight; however, it will most likely take a half year for widespread vaccinations to be in place. Decision-makers should analyze the effects of each intervention and pandemic fatigue to get ready for the further waves of infection.</abstract>

The situation of Covid-19 outbreak in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, during the time of pandemic fatigue

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At the end of December 2019, first identified cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) started emerging. Ever since the emergence of the first case of infection with SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, it became the hottest research topic of numerous studies, in which scientists are trying to understand the path of infection, transmission, replication and viral action, all in order of finding a potential cure or vaccine applying various fundamental principles and methodologies. Using <italic>in silico</italic> method via AutoDock Vina 1.1.2., we analysed the binding affinity of six selected compounds from grapefruit seed extract (GSE) (narirutin, naringin, naringenin, limonin, ascorbic acid and citric acid) to SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro (PDB ID: 6Y84), using acetoside, remdesivir and gallic acid as a positive controls of binding affinity. Results showed highest affinity (rmsd l.b. 0.000; rmsd u.b. 0.000) for narirutin (-10.5), then for naringin (-10.1), acetoside (-10.0), limonin (-9.9), remdesivir (-9.6), naringenin (-8.2), ascorbic acid (-6.7), citric acid (-6.4) and gallic acid (-6.4), all expressed in kcal/mol. Our findings suggest that selected compounds from grapefruit seed extract represent potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, but further research is needed as well as preclinical and clinical trials for final confirmation of inhibitory functionality of these compounds.</abstract>

<italic>In silico</italic> analysis of selected components of grapefruit seed extract against SARS-CoV-2 main protease

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The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has accelerated vaccine development and testing, an important step in its eradication. Health workers were included among the first subjects to be vaccinated, therefore it was necessary to check their immunological status after the first and second dose of vaccine.
Serum samples belonging to 24 health workers undergoing vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) were analysed: for 2 of them it was also possible to obtain a serum sample prior to the first dose of vaccine (zero time); antibody dosing was performed in 18 out of 24 after the first and second vaccination dose; in the remaining 6 healthcare workers a serum sample was obtained only after the second dose. In each serum sample, IgA and IgG antibodies to "Spike Receptor Binding Domain" (RBD) and "Nucleocapsid" (N) proteins were searched by ELISA test. Except for the two subjects for whom it was possible to have a serum sample before vaccination, the others were collected on day 18 from the first dose of vaccine and on day 8 from the second dose.
Serum samples collected after the first dose of vaccine showed reactivity to anti-RBD IgG in 11 out of 18 healthcare workers and to IgA in 2 subjects. After the second dose all 24 samples showed the presence of anti-S IgG, while 5 revealed a reactivity for anti-S IgA. Three samples showed reactivity towards anti-N IgG.
The ELISA test has shown all its effectiveness in controlling post vaccine immunity and in discriminating natural immunity from vaccine induced immunity.</abstract>

IgA and IgG antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated health workers by a homemade ELISA diagnostic test

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The entire globe is struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic since March 11, 2020. There is still a large number of infected patients and death, and there is no proven treatment for the infection yet. This has led to the race in vaccine development to protect people from COVID-19 infection. As of February 3, 2021, there were 289 experimental COVID -19 vaccines in development, 66 of which were in clinical trials with different phases, and 20 of them were in phase 3.
This study aims to evaluate 15 important vaccines based on criteria such as the dose number, dosing schedule, storage advantages, efficacy, and side effect. In this evaluation, we use the fuzzy PROMETHEE approach, which is an important Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique. The importance level of the criteria is determined based on expert opinion. The result shows that the EpiVacCorona vaccine is the most effective vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infections based on the selected criteria and the importance level of each criterion.
The result obtained may change based on individual or expert’s priorities. Due to the use of different criteria for the ranking and different weightings of the criteria, the ranking result may differ. This study also shows the strengths and weaknesses of the selected vaccines and the applicability of the MCDM technique for the evaluation of COVID -19 vaccines.</abstract>

Decision Analysis of the COVID-19 Vaccines

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A reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is regarded as the most sensitive method available and is being used for screening procedure for all incoming passengers to Northern Cyprus for SARS-CoV-2. This study investigated the compatibility of two different RT-qPCR methodologies Diagnovital® and Bio-Speedy® by re-analyzing the previously confirmed positive samples. A total of 43 previously confirmed positive samples were re-analyzed by two different commercially available SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR kits. Only 23.5% of positive samples detected by Diagnovital® RT-qPCR kit were detected by Bio-Speedy® detection kit.
In conclusion, adoption of Diagnovital® RT-qPCR kit detecting two regions of SARS-CoV-2 genome in our laboratories enabled the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic cases with higher sensitivity and contributed to the prevention of viral transmission within the country. The timely detection of infection in asymptomatic individuals may be the key to a successful fight against the COVID- 19 pandemic.</abstract>

Comparison of RT-qPCR results of different gene targets for SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic individuals during COVID-19 pandemic

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The EuroBiotech Journal

The EuroBiotech Journal is the official journal of the The European Biotechnology Thematic Network Association (EBTNA) and is published periodically every three months. It covers both the science of biotechnology. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research articles, reviews, brief reports, short communications and opinions in various areas of biotechnology. The EuroBiotech Journal presents the full diversity of biotechnology science, particularly advances in research and developments that open opportunities for exploitation of knowledge, commercially or otherwise, together with discussion and comment on broader issues of general interest and concern. The outlook is fully international.  The scope of the EuroBiotech Journal includes the research and industrial aspects of biotechnology, in areas including: Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals; Immunotherapy and Diagnostics; Genetic Engineering; Gene-Editing; Protein Engineering; Genomics; Synthetic Biology; Molecular technologies; Nanotechnology; Bioinformatics and Databases; and Digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence, where they relate to biotechnology.  The EuroBiotech Journal publishes only online, and all articles are available on our website free of charge. Each work will receive a unique DOI (Digital Object Identifier) number.  The EuroBiotech Journal is committed to publishing works in the field of biotechnology by researchers from all over the World which are innovative and contribute to scientific knowledge.  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

The EuroBiotech Journal

Volume 5 (2021): Issue s1 (June 2021)

COVID-19 Special Issue

The situation of Covid-19 outbreak in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, during the time of pandemic fatigue

In silico analysis of selected components of grapefruit seed extract against SARS-CoV-2 main protease

IgA and IgG antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated health workers by a homemade ELISA diagnostic test

Decision Analysis of the COVID-19 Vaccines

Comparison of RT-qPCR results of different gene targets for SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic individuals during COVID-19 pandemic

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