Stigmatization of Chinese and Asian-looking people during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

Background The outbreak and global spread of COVID-19 was accompanied by an increase in reports of stigmatization of Chinese and Asian-looking people. The behavioral immune system provides a framework for stigmatization in response to infectious disease threats. Specifically, stigmatization might increase with rising levels of infectious disease threat. The present study aimed to examine this hypothesis during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods As part of the “EUCLID” project (https://euclid.dbvis.de), a total of 5011 persons from Germany were surveyed via an online-questionnaire between February 2nd and April 3rd, 2020, covering the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic over three time periods which were defined by critical events. Results There was no evidence for an increase in the stigmatization of Chinese and Asian-looking people across three topics, that is personal proximity, air travel, and medical measures upon arrival from China. Conclusions The present findings provide good news in that participants showed an adaptive response to the infectious disease threat rather than displaying increased stigmatization. Further research is necessary to specify the conditions that increase the risk of stigmatization in response to infectious disease threats.

SARS-CoV-2 Fusion Peptide has a Greater Membrane Perturbating Effect than SARS-CoV with Highly Specific Dependence on Ca2+

Coronaviruses are a major infectious disease threat, and include the zoonotic-origin human pathogens SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV (SARS-2, SARS-1, and MERS). Entry of coronaviruses into host cells is mediated by the spike (S) protein. In our previous ESR studies, the local membrane ordering effect of the fusion peptide (FP) of various viral glycoproteins including the S of SARS-1 and MERS has been consistently observed. We previously determined that the sequence immediately downstream from the S2’ cleavage site is the bona fide SARS-1 FP. In this study, we used sequence alignment to identify the SARS-2 FP, and studied its membrane ordering effect. Although there are only three residue difference, SARS-2 FP induces even greater membrane ordering than SARS-1 FP, possibly due to its greater hydrophobicity. This may be a reason that SARS-2 is better able to infect host cells. In addition, the membrane binding enthalpy for SARS-2 is greater. Both the membrane ordering of SARS-2 and SARS-1 FPs are dependent on Ca2+, but that of SARS-2 shows a greater response to the presence of Ca2+. Both FPs bind two Ca2+ ions as does SARS-1 FP, but the two Ca2+ binding sites of SARS-2 exhibit greater cooperativity. This Ca2+ dependence by the SARS-2 FP is very ion-specific. These results show that Ca2+ is an important regulator that interacts with the SARS-2 FP and thus plays a significant role in SARS-2 viral entry. This could lead to therapeutic solutions that either target the FP-calcium interaction or block the Ca2+ channel.

Spatiotemporal and Socioeconomic Risk Factors for Dengue at the Province Level in Vietnam, 2013–2015: Clustering Analysis and Regression Model

Dengue is a serious infectious disease threat in Vietnam, but its spatiotemporal and socioeconomic risk factors are not currently well understood at the province level across the country and on a multiannual scale. We explore spatial trends, clusters and outliers in dengue case counts at the province level from 2011–2015 and use this to extract spatiotemporal variables for regression analysis of the association between dengue case counts and selected spatiotemporal and socioeconomic variables from 2013–2015. Dengue in Vietnam follows anticipated spatial trends, with a potential two-year cycle of high-high clusters in some southern provinces. Small but significant associations are observed between dengue case counts and mobility, population density, a province’s dengue rates the previous year, and average dengue rates two years previous in first and second order contiguous neighbours. Significant associations were not found between dengue case counts and housing pressure, access to electricity, clinician density, province-adjusted poverty rate, percentage of children below one vaccinated, or percentage of population in urban settings. These findings challenge assumptions about socioeconomic and spatiotemporal risk factors for dengue, and support national prevention targeting in Vietnam at the province level. They may also be of wider relevance for the study of other arboviruses, including Japanese encephalitis, Zika, and Chikungunya.

548. Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing and Antibiogram Formation, Connecticut 2017–2019

Background Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii (CRAB) is an infectious disease threat with limited treatment options. Statewide CRAB reporting and isolate submission has been mandated in Connecticut (CT) since 2017, which allowed the creation of a statewide CRAB antibiogram to assist with empiric treatment options for CRAB. Methods Clinical CRAB isolates from 2017 through the first quarter of 2019 underwent carbapenemase and expanded susceptibility testing at the CT State Public Health Laboratory or the Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Network regional lab for carbapenemase and expanded susceptibility testing. Susceptibility testing was done by broth microdilution and disk diffusion, and interpreted using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute breakpoints. Carbapenemase producers were detected by the modified carbapenem inactivation method. Polymerase chain reaction testing identified carbapenemase genes. Results Of the 64 CRAB isolates submitted, 40 remained after confirmation of carbapenem resistance, i.e., resistance to at least one carbapenem, and deduplication of patients. Of these, 19 were carbapenemase producers (CP), and 21 were non-carpabenemase producers (Non-CP). All isolates were non-susceptible to cefepime, ceftazidime, levofloxacin and all carbapenems. Colistin susceptibilities were available for 33 isolates, 32 (97%) of which were susceptible. Tobramycin susceptibilities were available for 31 isolates, only 10 (32%) of which were susceptible. Of the CP, all 15 were susceptible to colistin, but only 2 (14%) were susceptible to tobramycin. Of the Non-CP, 16 (89%) were susceptible to colistin, and 8 (47%) were susceptible to tobramycin. Most CRABs had a tigecycline minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ≤2 μg/mL, with a higher proportion of Non-CP with lower MIC values than CP. Conclusion CRAB shows resistance to all carbapenems, and most non-carbapenem antibiotics except colistin and in rare circumstances tobramycin. Most CRAB isolates had tigecycline MICs of ≤2 μg/mL. The statewide antibiogram illustrates the lack of approved antibiotics for the treatment of CRAB, underscoring the importance of further antibiotic development for CRAB treatment. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.