Disparities in distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across US counties: A geographic information system–based cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has repeatedly called for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine equity. The objective our study was to measure equity in the early distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare facilities across the US. Specifically, we tested whether the likelihood of a healthcare facility administering COVID-19 vaccines in May 2021 differed by county-level racial composition and degree of urbanicity.Methods and findingsThe outcome was whether an eligible vaccination facility actually administered COVID-19 vaccines as of May 2021, and was defined by spatially matching locations of eligible and actual COVID-19 vaccine administration locations. The outcome was regressed against county-level measures for racial/ethnic composition, urbanicity, income, social vulnerability index, COVID-19 mortality, 2020 election results, and availability of nontraditional vaccination locations using generalized estimating equations.Across the US, 61.4% of eligible healthcare facilities and 76.0% of eligible pharmacies provided COVID-19 vaccinations as of May 2021. Facilities in counties with >42.2% non-Hispanic Black population (i.e., > 95th county percentile of Black race composition) were less likely to serve as COVID-19 vaccine administration locations compared to facilities in counties with <12.5% non-Hispanic Black population (i.e., lower than US average), with OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.98, p = 0.030. Location of a facility in a rural county (OR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.90, p < 0.001, versus metropolitan county) or in a county in the top quintile of COVID-19 mortality (OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.93, p = 0.001, versus bottom 4 quintiles) was associated with decreased odds of serving as a COVID-19 vaccine administration location.There was a significant interaction of urbanicity and racial/ethnic composition: In metropolitan counties, facilities in counties with >42.2% non-Hispanic Black population (i.e., >95th county percentile of Black race composition) had 32% (95% CI 14% to 47%, p = 0.001) lower odds of serving as COVID administration facility compared to facilities in counties with below US average Black population. This association between Black composition and odds of a facility serving as vaccine administration facility was not observed in rural or suburban counties. In rural counties, facilities in counties with above US average Hispanic population had 26% (95% CI 11% to 38%, p = 0.002) lower odds of serving as vaccine administration facility compared to facilities in counties with below US average Hispanic population. This association between Hispanic ethnicity and odds of a facility serving as vaccine administration facility was not observed in metropolitan or suburban counties.Our analyses did not include nontraditional vaccination sites and are based on data as of May 2021, thus they represent the early distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Our results based on this cross-sectional analysis may not be generalizable to later phases of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process.ConclusionsHealthcare facilities in counties with higher Black composition, in rural areas, and in hardest-hit communities were less likely to serve as COVID-19 vaccine administration locations in May 2021. The lower uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations among minority populations and rural areas has been attributed to vaccine hesitancy; however, decreased access to vaccination sites may be an additional overlooked barrier.

Inmaculada Hernandez and colleagues investigate the disparities in early-phase distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines across U.S. Counties.     

Cytoplasmic domain and enzymatic activity of ACE2 are not required for PI4KB dependent endocytosis entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells

The recent COVID-19 pandemic poses a global health emergency. Cellular entry of the causative agent SARS-CoV-2 is mediated by its spike protein interacting with cellular receptor-human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Here, by using lentivirus based pseudotypes bearing spike protein, we demonstrated that entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells was dependent on clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and phosphoinositides played essential roles during this process. In addition, we showed that the intracellular domain and the catalytic activity of ACE2 were not required for efficient virus entry. Finally, we showed that the current predominant Delta variant, although with high infectivity and high syncytium formation, also entered cells through clathrin-mediated endocytosis. These results provide new insights into SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry and present proof of principle that targeting viral entry could be an effective way to treat different variant infections.     

Modification of alternative splicing in bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos using engineered CRISPR-Cas13d

Animal cloning can be achieved by somatic cell nuclear transfer(SCNT), but the resulting live birth rate is relatively low. We previously improved the efficiency of bovine SCNT by exogenous melatonin treatment or by overexpression of lysine-specific demethylase 4D(KDM4D) and 4E(KDM4E). In this study, we revealed abundant alternative splicing(AS) transitions during fertilization and embryonic genome activation, and demonstrated abnormal AS in bovine SCNT embryos compared with in vitro fertilized ...     

中国东部主要松林营养元素循环的比较研究

 中国的松林主要分布在亚热带和温带地区,在亚热带和温带地区东部主要是马尾松林、华山松林、油松林、红松林和樟子松林。松林由于树种、起源和年龄的差别,其生物量的变化幅度较大,在65～200t·hm-2之间(东北地区的原始红松林最高生物量可达360t·hm-2),松林的生物量表现出区域分异的特点。即从南到北随着纬度的增加,林分的生物量有逐渐降低的趋势。松树针叶中5种主要营养元素含量表现为[N]>[K]≥[Ca]>[Mg]≥[P],而且营养元素表现出因种而异,N的含量为华山松≥马尾松>油松≥红松>樟子松,而P和K在油松和红松针叶中含量较高;Ca的含量表现出较大的波动,与其母岩关系密切。松林主要营养元素(N、P、K、Ca、Mg)的积累量中N一般占25％～40％,松林营养元素循环速率受生境,树种、年龄的影响,但总的来说,亚热带地区松林营养元素的循环速率高于温带地区松林。     

多效唑(PP333)对美洲商陆毛状根生长和商陆皂苷甲产生的影响

为了探究植物生长调节剂多效唑(PP333)调控药用植物美洲商陆(Phytolacca americana)毛状根生长和次生代谢的可能性, 设计实验并探讨PP333对美洲商陆毛状根生长及其商陆皂苷甲含量的影响。结果表明, 与对照相比, PP333使毛状根根尖及侧根表面呈浅红色, 侧根变得短而粗, 且随着培养基内PP333浓度的升高, 根表面颜色加深。培养基中添加0.5-5.0 mg·L^-1 PP333能促进毛状根中商陆皂苷甲的产生, 其中以1.0 mg·L^-1 PP333的效果最好, 其商陆皂苷甲含量达6.22 mg·g^-1 DW, 约为对照的1.94倍。PP333能提高毛状根苯丙氨酸裂解酶(PAL)的活性, 并可能通过对PAL酶活性的调节来促进毛状根中商陆皂苷甲的产生。     

水稻大粒种质资源和遗传分析

谷粒重量是构成产量的三要素之一, 对提高水稻产量具有重要意义。本文概述了国内外水稻大粒种质资源的现状, 同时对粒重基因遗传分析的研究进展进行了综述。粒重是一个受多基因控制的数量性状, 目前定位的粒重数量性状位点至少达89个、精细定位1个粒重基因gw3.1和１个长粒基因Lk-4(t)以及克隆1个粒重基因GS3, 并在此基础上讨论了粒重在育种上的应用。     

絮凝基因的克隆和在工业啤酒酵母菌株中表达

The partial genomic library of Saccharomyce cerevisiae FL189 possessing strong flocculation ability was constructed using Yeast-E.coli shuttle plasmid YCp50 as vector.Recombinant plasmid containing flocculation gene was obtained by screening the growth of transformants on the selective medium and measurement flocculation,designated as pCF1.pCF1 was introduced into industrial yeast strain PJ208-5-15.Six transformants PJ208-5-15-1(pCF1)～PJ208-5-15-6(pCF1)possessing strong flocculation ability were obtained.Th…     

几种药物抑制马传染性贫血病毒和人免疫缺陷病毒的实验研究

用马传染性贫血病毒—驴胚肺二倍体细胞(EIAV-DELDC)为实验体系,以细胞中病毒逆转录酶活性及病毒相关抗原的表达为观察指标,检测了叠氮胸苷(AZT)、三氮唑核苷(Ribavirin,病毒唑)、磷羧基甲酸钠(PFA)和苏拉明等4种已知抗人免疫缺陷病毒(HIV-1)药物对马传染性贫血病毒的抑制作用。结果表明,PFA、AZTTP(三磷酸AZT)和苏拉明均能抑制病毒相关抗原的表达,AZT虽无此作用,但能抑制细胞内逆转录酶活性。用~3H-TMP掺入法比较了PFA、AZTTP、苏拉明对体外无细胞系EIAV逆转录酶粗提物和HIV-1基因工程产物逆转录酶活性的抑制作用表明,两种逆转录酶对苏拉明的敏感性相近,而HIV-1逆转录酶对PFA和AZTTP的敏感性较EIAV者高约100倍。又以无细胞系中逆转录酶活性测定法,检测了12种中药提取物的抑制作用,其中小柴胡汤对EIAV和HIV-1逆转录酶活性都有抑制作用,IC_(50)为717μg/ml和700μg/ml(生药浓度)。小柴胡汤对两种病毒感染细胞中抗原的表达和HIV引起细胞病变都有抑制作用,对HIV-1的抑制比EIAV强。这些结果表明,EIAV-DELDC体系可考虑作为抗HIV-1药物筛选模型。