Rachel Halkerston
A5076066762- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Dermatological and COVID-19 studies
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Pregnancy and Medication Impact
- Complement system in diseases
- COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- Advanced Drug Delivery Systems
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
UK Health Security Agency
2023-2024
Public Health England
2019-2021
University of Birmingham
2020
There is a vital need for authentic COVID-19 animal models to enable the pre-clinical evaluation of candidate vaccines and therapeutics. Here we report dose titration study SARS-CoV-2 in ferret model. After high (5 × 106 pfu) medium 104 virus delivered, intranasally, viral RNA shedding upper respiratory tract (URT) observed 6/6 animals, however, only 1/6 ferrets show similar signs after low 102 challenge. Following sequential culls pathological mild multifocal bronchopneumonia approximately...
A novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has been identified as the causative agent of current COVID-19 pandemic. Animal models, and in particular non-human primates, are essential to understand pathogenesis emerging diseases assess safety efficacy vaccines therapeutics. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 replicates upper lower respiratory tract causes pulmonary lesions both rhesus cynomolgus macaques. Immune responses against also similar species equivalent those reported milder infections convalescent...
Abstract The trajectories of acquired immunity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection are not fully understood. We present a detailed longitudinal cohort study UK healthcare workers prior vaccination, presenting April-June 2020 with asymptomatic or symptomatic infection. Here we show highly variable range responses, some which (T cell interferon-gamma ELISpot, N-specific antibody) wane over time, while others (spike-specific antibody, B memory ELISpot) stable. use...
Abstract In December 2019 an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China. The causative agent was subsequently identified and named severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which rapidly spread worldwide causing a pandemic. Currently there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics available against SARS-CoV-2 but numerous candidate development repurposed drugs being tested the clinic. There is vital need for authentic COVID-19 animal models to further our...
Background: As COVID-19 becomes endemic, understanding antibody response and transfer during pregnancy is crucial to inform policy vaccination schedules. While good immunogenicity has been shown from SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, few data are available demonstrating functional responses in pregnant populations infants. Methods: A prospective, multi-site observational study was completed across 14 centers England April 23, 2020, December 21, 2022. Demographic, COVID infection were collected. Maternal...
Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is normally controlled by effective host immunity including innate, humoral and cellular responses. However, the trajectories correlates of acquired immunity, capacity memory responses months after to neutralise variants concern - which has important public health implications not fully understood. To address this, we studied a cohort 78 UK healthcare workers who presented in April June 2020 with symptomatic...
ABSTRACT A novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has been identified as the causative agent of current COVID-19 pandemic. Animal models, and in particular non-human primates, are essential to understand pathogenesis emerging diseases safety efficacy vaccines therapeutics. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 replicates upper lower respiratory tract causes pulmonary lesions both rhesus cynomolgus macaques, resembling mild clinical cases humans. Immune responses against were also similar species equivalent...
Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are important to generate protective immunity, with convalescent plasma one of the first therapies approved. An alternative source polyclonal antibodies suitable for upscaling would be more amendable regulatory approval and widespread use. In this study, sheep were immunised whole spike protein or subunit proteins: S1 S2. Once substantial antibody titres generated, was collected samples pooled each antigen. Non-specific removed via affinity-purification yield...
Abstract The development of new therapies against SARS-CoV-2 is required to extend the toolkit intervention strategies combat global pandemic. In this study, hyperimmune plasma from sheep immunised with whole spike recombinant protein has been used generate candidate products. addition purified IgG, we have refined by removing non-specific IgG via affinity binding along fragmentation eliminate Fc region create F(ab′) 2 fragments. These preparations were evaluated for in vitro activity and...
Tuberculosis, causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis , caused an estimated 10 million new cases and 1.6 deaths in 2017. Mycobacterial cell wall components are important for host-pathogen interactions modulating the innate adaptive immune response. Much is understood about interplay between bacterial phenotype, modulation interaction with aspects of However, impact such as biofilms on complement system activation, has not been studied in-depth. M. may persist a chronic, non-replicating...