Background/Objectives: Enterovirus-D68 (EV-D68) and rhinoviruses are major contributors to respiratory illnesses in children, presenting a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic cases to severe lower respiratory tract infections. No specific antiviral treatments are currently approved for these viruses. Method: We conducted a comprehensive literature review of antiviral agents investigated for EV-D68 and rhinovirus infections. Results: Several antiviral candidates are under investigation, each targeting distinct stages of the viral replicative cycle. Capsid-binding agents and monoclonal antibodies prevent viral attachment by blocking receptor-virus interactions. Inhibitors of viral replication proteins disrupt polyprotein processing and replication organelle biogenesis by targeting non-structural viral proteins. Host factor inhibitors impair viral attachment, replication organelle formation, or RNA replication by interfering with critical host pathways. Conclusions: While no specific antivirals are yet approved for EV-D68 and rhinovirus infections, emerging therapeutic candidates offer potential avenues for treatment. Continued preclinical and clinical investigation will be essential to validate these approaches and expand the available options for affected patients.

Measuring the ability of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies to neutralize live viruses remains an effective approach to quantify the level of protection of individuals. We assessed the neutralization activity against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2, Delta, Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 strains, in 280 vaccinated restaurant/bar, grocery and hardware store workers in Québec, Canada. Participants were recruited during the emergence of Omicron BA.1 variant. The neutralizing activity of participant sera was assessed by microneutralization assay. Serum neutralizing antibody (NtAb) titers of all participants against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain were comparable with those against Delta variant (ranges of titers 10–2032 and 10–2560, respectively), however, their response was significantly reduced against Omicron BA.1, BA2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 (10–1016, 10–1016, 10–320, 10–80 and 10–254, respectively). Individuals who received 2 doses of vaccine had significantly reduced NtAb titers against all SARS-CoV-2 strains compared to those infected and then vaccinated (≥1 dose), vaccinated (≥2 doses) and then infected, or those who received 3 doses of vaccine. Participants vaccinated with 2 or 3 doses of vaccine and then infected had the highest NtAb titers against all SARS-CoV-2 strains tested. We assessed for the first time the NtAb response in food and retail workers. We found that vaccination prior to the emergence of Omicron BA.1 was associated with higher neutralizing activity against pre-Omicron variants, suggesting the importance of updating vaccines to increase antibody response against new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Vaccination followed by infection was associated with higher neutralizing activity against all SARS-CoV-2 strains tested.

Retail workers are an understudied occupational group that may have been at increased risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. To explore this question, we set up a longitudinal cohort of participants working in this sector to document the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the immune response to infection and/or vaccination. A total of 304 participants were recruited between April 20 ^th , 2021 and October 22 ^nd , 2021. They were invited to attend three visits (each separated by ∼12 weeks) during which they provided blood samples. Information was collected on participant characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 detection tests done, COVID-19 symptoms, and vaccination. An extension phase of two additional visits was carried out between March 15 ^th , 2022 and October 3 ^rd , 2022 to document the impact of the Omicron variant among the 198 participants who were still eligible for recruitment. Participants were aged 18 to 75 and worked in grocery stores, hardware stores, bars or restaurants within the Québec City metropolitan area (Canada). Findings to date: This article describes participants’ demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, occupational and clinical characteristics, and their COVID-19 symptoms (when applicable), as well as SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status and any SARS-CoV-2 positive diagnostic test (i.e., PCR or rapid antigen) from the beginning of the pandemic until the last visit. The goals of this study were: to assess the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the immune response (innate and acquired) to SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination using a variety of techniques. The humoral immune response was measured by reference and experimental enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, as well as microneutralization assays with live viruses and experimental pseudoneutralization with an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-spike assay. Cellular immune response was evaluated by using the viral analog R848 to activate peripheral blood mononuclear cells and neutrophils.

Background/Objectives: During the pandemic, client-facing workers were perceived to be at greater risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study investigated the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among a cohort of 304 retail workers in the Quebec City metropolitan area. Methods: After providing consent, participants were interviewed to gather information on demographic, socioeconomic, behavioural, and occupational variables. They were subsequently followed for up to five visits, scheduled every 12 ± 4 weeks. The study covered critical periods before and during the emergence of the Omicron variants and included retrospective reporting of COVID-19 symptoms and virus detection tests to capture the pandemic’s early stages. Results: During the observation period, 173 (57%) participants experienced a first episode of COVID-19. Serological evidence of recent infection was detected in 160 participants (53%), while 117 (38%) reported a positive virus detection test. In adjusted analyses, risk factors for infection included younger age, a diagnosis of lung disease, longer weekly working hours, more frequent social gatherings, and having received fewer than three doses of vaccine. Notably, the increased risk associated with younger age and longer working hours was observed only after the relaxation of public health measures in the spring of 2022. Conclusions: These data suggest that during the early years of the pandemic when strict public health measures were in place, retail work was not a significant risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Quebec City metropolitan area. These findings highlight the complex dynamics of COVID-19 transmission and the effectiveness of workplace protective measures.

This study evaluated whether immunity from seasonal influenza induces cross-reactive antibodies against recent avian and bovine H5N1 strains in serum from retail workers. Despite strong neutralizing activity against seasonal strains, no cross-reactivity against H5N1 was detected, emphasizing the need to assess broader immune responses and targeted vaccines for H5N1 viruses.