Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Faldaprevir Following Multiple Oral Rising Doses in Healthy Volunteers and Subjects with Gilbert's Syndrome.

Faldaprevir (FDV) is an investigational NS3/NS4A protease inhibitor for chronic hepatitis C. This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of FDV after multiple rising doses in healthy male volunteers and subjects with Gilbert syndrome (GS). In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, healthy males received once-daily oral FDV (20, 48, 120 mg [n = 6 per group], 240 mg [n = 5]), or placebo (n = 7).

The Management of Chronic Hepatitis B: 2025 Guidelines Update from the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver and Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses significant public health challenges in Canada, particularly among newcomers from regions with high HBV prevalence. In alignment with the World Health Organization's goal of HBV elimination by 2030, this 2025 guidelines update-developed jointly by the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL) and the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada-presents recommendations for universal adult HBV screening, vaccination, laboratory assessment, and treatment. These guidelines emphasize patient-centred care, early diagnosis, and expanded antiviral treatment, including for individuals in the indeterminate or and special populations such as pregnant individuals, children, and those coinfected with HIV, hepatitis C, or hepatitis D.

Increased Alkaline Phosphatase Associated with Brown Algae and Mushroom Extract-Containing Supplement Use.

Background: Marked alkaline phosphatase (ALP) elevation as a consequence of drug exposure is uncommon. We report a chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) positive 47-year-old male patient taking a brown algae and mushroom extract-containing supplement (Umi No Shizuku) with ALP levels almost 7 times the upper limit during routine bloodwork. ALP was 991 U/L (normal 50-112 U/L).

COVID-19 vaccine uptake in a retrospective population-based cohort of people living with and without HIV in Ontario, Canada.

Introduction: COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduces COVID-19-related hospitalization and mortality and is important for those who may be at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including people living with HIV. Using a population-based approach, we examined COVID-19 vaccine uptake among people living with and without HIV in Ontario, Canada.

Methods: A retrospective population-based matched cohort study was conducted using provincial clinical and health administrative data from December 14, 2020 to August 31, 2022.

Chronic hepatitis B virus persistence: Mechanisms, consequences and implications for achieving cure.

HBV persists within the hepatocyte due to the presence of intranuclear covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and double-stranded linear DNA (dslDNA) integration. These bodies pose formidable challenges for achieving HBV functional and sterilizing cure. In this virology-focused review we provide an overview of HBV persistence with consideration of the negative implications for chronic infection.

Risk factors for infection with SARS-CoV-2 in a cohort of Canadian healthcare workers: 2020-2023.

Determining the factors that impact the risk for infection with SARS-CoV-2 is a priority as the virus continues to infect people worldwide. The objective was to determine the effectiveness of vaccines and other factors associated with infection among Canadian healthcare workers (HCWs) followed from 15 June 2020 to 1 December 2023. We also investigate the association between antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and subsequent infections with SARS-CoV-2.

Global prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective evidence.

This corrigendum is being published to correct a number of errors and imprecisions, on pages 113, 120-125 and 138, of the following article: Taher MK, Salzman T, Banal A, Morissette K, Domingo FR, Cheung AM, Cooper CL, Boland L, Zuckermann AM, Mullah MA, Laprise C, Colonna R, Hashi A, Rahman P, Collins E, Corrin T, Waddell LA, Pagaduan JE, Ahmad R, Jaramillo Garcia AP. Global prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective evidence. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can.

Systemic and Mucosal Antibody Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Variant-Specific Prime-and-Boost and Prime-and-Spike Vaccination: A Comparison of Intramuscular and Intranasal Bivalent Vaccine Administration in a Murine Model.

The rapid genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has led to the emergence of immune-evading, highly transmissible variants of concern (VOCs). This prompts the need for next-generation vaccines that elicit robust mucosal immunity in the airways to directly curb viral infection. Here, we investigate the impact of heterologous variant prime-boost regimens on humoral responses, focusing on intramuscular (IM) and intranasal (IN) routes of administration.

Alcohol consumption does not influence SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immunogenicity: A stop the spread Ottawa cohort analysis.

The effect of alcohol consumption on COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity was evaluated. Participants from the Stop the Spread Ottawa cohort were categorized by alcohol consumption categorized as excessive or non-excessive based on the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction's (CCSA) 2023 guidelines on alcohol use. Our analyses showed that alcohol consumption did not influence SARS-CoV-2 antibody baseline levels, post vaccine increase or decay over time.

Global prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective evidence.

Introduction: We investigated the prevalence of new or persistent manifestations experienced by COVID-19 survivors at 3 or more months after their initial infection, collectively known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC).

Methods: We searched four electronic databases and major grey literature resources for prospective studies, systematic reviews, authoritative reports and population surveys. A random-effects meta-analysis pooled the prevalence data of 22 symptoms and outcomes.

Sex differences in COVID-19 vaccine confidence in people living with HIV in Canada.

Background: Understanding the roots of vaccine confidence in vulnerable populations, such as persons living with HIV (PLWH), is important to facilitate vaccine uptake, thus mitigating infection and spread of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. In an online survey of PLWH conducted in Canada during winter 2022 (), we reported that the overall COVID-19 vaccination uptake rate in PLWH was similar by sex. Here, we examined attitudes and beliefs towards vaccination against COVID-19 based on sex.

Obesity does not influence SARS-CoV-2 humoral vaccine immunogenicity.

Obesity is a recognized factor influencing immune function and infectious disease outcomes. Characterization of the influence of obesity on SARS-CoV-2 humoral vaccine immunogenicity is required to properly tailor vaccine type (mRNA, viral-vector, protein subunit vaccines) and dosing schedule. Data from a prospective cohort study collected over 34 months was used to evaluate the slope of antibody production and decay and neutralizing capacity following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in individuals with and without obesity at baseline.

Coronavirus disease 2019 outcomes in a population-based cohort of people with HIV and a matched cohort of people without HIV during Omicron variant waves.

We found that rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing and reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR-confirmed infection were approximately 50% higher in a population-based cohort of people with HIV compared with a matched cohort of people without HIV during the Omicron era (2 January 2022 to 31 March 2023) in Ontario, Canada, after controlling for age, sex, residential census tract, and country of birth. Rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related hospitalization and/or death were more than double. Differences persisted independent of vaccination, healthcare access, and COVID-19 diagnosis.

Multivariate analyses and machine learning link sex and age with antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 and vaccination.

Prevention of negative COVID-19 infection outcomes is associated with the quality of antibody responses, whose variance by age and sex is poorly understood. Network approaches identified sex and age effects in antibody responses and neutralization potential of infection and vaccination throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Neutralization values followed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific receptor binding immunoglobulin G (RIgG), spike immunoglobulin G (SIgG) and spike and receptor immunoglobulin G (S, and RIgA) levels based on COVID-19 status.

Reduced seasonal coronavirus incidence in high-risk population groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Epidemiological data on seasonal coronaviruses (sCoVs) may provide insight on transmission patterns and demographic factors that favor coronaviruses (CoVs) with greater disease severity. This study describes the incidence of CoVs in several high-risk groups in Ottawa, Canada, from October 2020 to March 2022.

Methods: Serological assays quantified IgG and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-229E.

Lasting differential gene expression of circulating CD8 T cells in chronic HCV infection with cirrhosis identifies a role for Hedgehog signaling in cellular hyperfunction.

Background: The impact of chronic hepatic infection on antigen non-specific immune cells in circulation remains poorly understood. We reported lasting global hyperfunction of peripheral CD8 T cells in HCV-infected individuals with cirrhosis. Whether gene expression patterns in bulk CD8 T cells are associated with the severity of liver fibrosis in HCV infection is not known.

Correlates of Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infections in People with HIV: Results from the CIHR CTN 328 Study.

COVID-19 breakthrough infection (BTI) can occur despite vaccination. Using a multi-centre, prospective, observational Canadian cohort of people with HIV (PWH) receiving ≥2 COVID-19 vaccines, we compared the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific IgG levels 3 and 6 months post second dose, as well as 1 month post third dose, in PWH with and without BTI. BTI was defined as positivity based on self-report measures (data up to last study visit) or IgG data (up to 1 month post dose 3).

Hepatitis B Virus Genotype Influence on Virological and Enzymatic Measures over Time-A Retrospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.

HBV is a hepatotropic virus with multiple genotypes. It is uncertain if specific genotype(s) influence virological measures and/or liver markers over time. It is unclear whether nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy response is influenced by genotype.

COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness by HIV status and history of injection drug use: a test-negative analysis.

Introduction: People living with HIV (PLWH) and/or who inject drugs may experience lower vaccine effectiveness (VE) against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: A validated algorithm was applied to population-based, linked administrative datasets in the British Columbia COVID-19 Cohort (BCC19C) to ascertain HIV status and create a population of PLWH and matched HIV-negative individuals. The study population was limited to individuals who received an RT-PCR laboratory test for SARS-CoV-2 between 15 December 2020 and 21 November 2021 in BC, Canada.

Preventative behaviours and COVID-19 infection in a Canadian cohort of people living with HIV.

Few studies have examined preventative behaviour practices with respect to COVID-19 among people living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Using a cross-sectional survey from a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canadian HIV Trials Network study (CTN 328) of people living with HIV on vaccine immunogenicity, we examined the relationships between participant characteristics and behavioural practices intended to prevent COVID-19 infection. Participants living in four Canadian urban centers were enrolled between April 2021-January 2022, at which time they responded to a questionnaire on preventative behaviour practices.

Antibody neutralization capacity after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination in people with HIV in Canada.

Objectives: Many vaccines require higher/additional doses or adjuvants to provide adequate protection for people with HIV (PWH). Here, we compare coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine-induced antibody neutralization capacity in PWH vs. HIV-negative individuals following two vaccine doses.

Public reimbursement policies in Canada for direct-acting antiviral treatment of hepatitis C virus infection: A descriptive study.

Background: Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies have simplified HCV treatment, and publicly funded Canadian drug plans have eliminated disease-stage restrictions for reimbursement of DAA therapies. However other policies which complicate, delay, or prevent treatment initiation still persist. We aim to describe these plans' existing reimbursement criteria and appraise whether they hinder treatment access.

Risk of COVID-19 hospitalization in people living with HIV and HIV-negative individuals and the role of COVID-19 vaccination: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To examine the risk of hospitalization within 14 days of COVID-19 diagnosis among people living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV-negative individuals who had laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: We used Cox proportional hazard models to compare the relative risk of hospitalization in PLWH and HIV-negative individuals. Then, we used propensity score weighting to examine the influence of sociodemographic factors and comorbid conditions on risk of hospitalization.

No time for complacency: The CoVaRR-Net Biobank is an essential element of laboratory preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic highlighted the need for rapid, collaborative, and population-centric research to define health impact, develop health care policies and establish reliable diagnostic and surveillance tests. Critical for these objectives were in-depth clinical data collected in standardized fashion and large numbers of various types of human samples prior and post-viral encounter. As the pandemic evolved with the emergence of new variants of concern (VOCs), access to samples and data from infected and vaccinated individuals were needed to monitor immune durability, the possibility of increased transmissibility and virulence, and vaccine protection against new and emerging VOCs.