Article
Immunology
Clara Schnizer, Nico Andreas, Wolfgang Vivas, Thomas Kamradt, Michael Baier, Michael Kiehntopf, Stefan Gloeckner, Andre Scherag, Bettina Loeffler, Steffi Kolanos, Joel Guerra, Mathias W. Pletz, Sebastian Weis
Summary: Understanding the persistent cellular and humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 is crucial in ending the ongoing pandemic. In a study conducted in a rural German community, individuals with mild COVID-19 showed a rapid decline in serum antibody levels over 1 year but exhibited persistent T-cell immunity for up to 1 year after infection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Barbara Poniedzialek, Ewelina Hallmann, Dominika Sikora, Karol Szymanski, Katarzyna Kondratiuk, Jakub Zurawski, Piotr Rzymski, Lidia Brydak
Summary: Evidence suggests that vaccination against seasonal influenza can enhance innate immune responses to COVID-19 and reduce disease severity. This study aimed to compare humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized, COVID-19 unvaccinated patients and mild COVID-19 convalescent patients who were and were not vaccinated against influenza. The results showed that influenza-vaccinated patients had higher levels of antibodies against nucleocapsid and receptor binding domain compared to non-vaccinated patients.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Eric H. Y. Lau, David S. C. Hui, Owen T. Y. Tsang, Wai-Hung Chan, Mike Y. W. Kwan, Susan S. Chiu, Samuel M. S. Cheng, Ronald Lw Ko, John K. C. Li, Sara Chaothai, Chi H. Tsang, Leo L. M. Poon, Malik Peiris
Summary: The study reveals that neutralizing antibodies produced after infection with the new coronavirus can still be detected for a considerable time after symptom onset, providing long-lasting protection against reinfection. The duration of this protection may be influenced by virus variants, with antibodies waning faster in children.
Article
Biology
Waleed Mahallawi, Mohammad Alzahrani, Ziab Alahmadey
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in recovered patients in Al Madinah region of Saudi Arabia. The findings provide evidence to support the use of an anti-S IgG ELISA as a diagnostic tool to indicate SARS-CoV-2 infection, with IgG seropositivity sustained in recovered patients up to a hundred days post-infection.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Charlotte Thibeault, Lara Bardtke, Kanika Vanshylla, Veronica di Cristanziano, Kirsten A. Eberhardt, Paula Stubbemann, David Hillus, Pinkus Tober-Lau, Parnika Mukherjee, Friederike Muenn, Lena J. Lippert, Elisa T. Helbig, Tilman Lingscheid, Fridolin Steinbeis, Mirja Mittermaier, Martin Witzenrath, Thomas Zoller, Florian Klein, Leif E. Sander, Florian Kurth
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of dexamethasone on immune response in COVID-19 patients. Observations on immunocompetent individuals showed that severe cases treated with dexamethasone exhibited lower T cell and antibody responses in the early phase of infection, but the difference gradually diminished after 6 months and immunization. Patients with mild COVID-19 showed comparatively lower immune response, including during convalescent booster immunization.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Makoto Yoshida, Yurie Kobashi, Takeshi Kawamura, Yuzo Shimazu, Yoshitaka Nishikawa, Fumiya Omata, Hiroaki Saito, Chika Yamamoto, Tianchen Zhao, Morihiro Takita, Naomi Ito, Kenji Tatsuno, Yudai Kaneko, Aya Nakayama, Tatsuhiko Kodama, Masatoshi Wakui, Kenzo Takahashi, Masaharu Tsubokura
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the impact of adverse reactions on immune dynamics. A large-scale community-based cohort in Japan was used to analyze the systemic adverse reactions after the second and third COVID-19 vaccinations and their relationship with immune responses. Participants who received a third vaccination and had information on adverse reactions (n = 2198) were enrolled. The study found that participants with multiple systemic adverse reactions had higher immune responses and helped maintain immunity after the third vaccination, which may promote the uptake of a third vaccination.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Rosanna W. Peeling, David L. Heymann, Yik-Ying Teo, Patricia J. Garcia
Summary: Diagnostics play a crucial role in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Molecular tests like PCR are recommended for confirming diagnosis in symptomatic individuals, while antigen rapid detection tests have the advantage of being easier to perform with faster results and lower cost. Antibody tests can inform public policy but should not be used as proof of immunity. All three types of tests continue to be important in transitioning from pandemic response to control.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Einav G. Levin, Yaniv Lustig, Carmit Cohen, Ronen Fluss, Victoria Indenbaum, Sharon Amit, Ram Doolman, Keren Asraf, Ella Mendelson, Arnona Ziv, Carmit Rubin, Laurence Freedman, Yitshak Kreiss, Gili Regev-Yochay
Summary: A study in Israel revealed that waning immunity after receiving two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine led to an increase in the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Levels of spike-binding IgG and neutralizing antibodies decreased more significantly in men, individuals aged 65 or older, and immunosuppressed individuals in a longitudinal study involving nearly 4000 healthcare workers.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Allergy
Min Li, Jiaojiao Liu, Renfei Lu, Yuchao Zhang, Meng Du, Man Xing, Zhenchuan Wu, Xiangyin Kong, Yufei Zhu, Xianchao Zhou, Landian Hu, Chiyu Zhang, Dongming Zhou, Xia Jin
Summary: The study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces persistent humoral immunity in COVID-19 convalescent individuals by targeting dominant epitopes located at the spike and ORF1ab proteins, which mediate long-term immune responses.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alvaro Carvalho, Ana Rita Henriques, Paula Queiros, Joana Rodrigues, Nuno Mendonca, Ana Maria Rodrigues, Helena Canhao, Germano de Sousa, Francisco Antunes, Miguel Guimaraes
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 and its dynamics during 9 months in COVID-19 patients. The results showed a lasting anti-S IgG antibody response after 9 months in the majority of patients. Factors such as age and symptomatic disease were found to be associated with different concentrations of IgG antibodies. Overall, this study provides important insights into the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and has implications for preventive strategies and public health policies.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eunjin Lee, Ji Eun Oh
Summary: This article introduces key findings on humoral immune responses in COVID-19, including the immune dynamics of antibody responses and correlations with disease severity, neutralizing antibodies and their cross-reactivity, the duration of antibody and memory B-cell responses, aberrant autoreactive antibodies in COVID-19 patients, and the efficacy of currently available therapeutic antibodies and vaccines against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, while also highlighting gaps in current knowledge.
MOLECULES AND CELLS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zeli Zhang, Jose Mateus, Camila H. Coelho, Jennifer M. Dan, Carolyn Rydyznski Moderbacher, Rosa Isela Galvez, Fernanda H. Cortes, Alba Grifoni, Alison Tarke, James Chang, E. Alexandar Escarrega, Christina Kim, Benjamin Goodwin, Nathaniel Bloom, April Frazier, Daniela Weiskopf, Alessandro Sette, Shane Crotty
Summary: Multiple COVID-19 vaccines have successfully protected against symptomatic cases and deaths. Comparisons of T cell, B cell, and antibody responses to different vaccines can provide insights into protective immunity against COVID-19, particularly immune memory. mRNA vaccines and Ad26.COV2.S induced strong T cell responses, while mRNA vaccines showed substantial declines in antibodies.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Vivian Gluck, Leonid Tydykov, Anna-Lena Mader, Anne-Sophie Warda, Manuela Bertok, Tanja Weidlich, Christine Gottwald, Josef Kostler, Bernd Salzberger, Ralf Wagner, Michael Koller, Andre Gessner, Barbara Schmidt, Thomas Glueck, David Peterhoff
Summary: The immune response to COVID-19 vaccination differs between naive vaccinees and those who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Longitudinal quantitative and qualitative serological differences in these two distinct immunological subgroups in response to vaccination are currently not well studied.
Article
Cell Biology
Jonathan D. Herman, Caroline Atyeo, Yonatan Zur, Claire E. Cook, Naomi J. Patel, Kathleen M. Vanni, Emily N. Kowalski, Grace Qian, Shruthi Srivatsan, Nancy A. Shadick, Deepak A. Rao, Benjamin Kellman, Colin J. Mann, Douglas Lauffenburger, Zachary S. Wallace, Jeffrey A. Sparks, Galit Alter
Summary: Alterations in humoral immunity, including weaker binding of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and stronger binding of antibodies against endemic coronavirus OC43, were observed in individuals with PASC. Previous coronavirus imprinting may serve as a potential marker for the development of PASC.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Biology
Benjamin Chen, Boris Julg, Sindhu Mohandas, Steven B. Bradfute
Summary: This article discusses the long-term sequelae of COVID-19 infection, known as "long COVID." Through a study of a large cohort of patients, it is found that viral persistence or reactivation may contribute to the diverse range of symptoms associated with long COVID. Understanding the mechanisms of viral persistence or reactivation and their association with inflammatory responses can provide insights for treatment.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Melanie Roch, Roberto Sierra, Diego O. Andrey
Summary: Heteroresistance refers to differential antimicrobial susceptibility within a clonal bacterial population. Its definition and clinical impact remain unclear for most bacterial species. This review provides an overview of the latest developments in heteroresistance, focusing on ESKAPE pathogens, for clinical microbiologists and physicians.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Olha Puhach, Benjamin Meyer, Isabella Eckerle
Summary: The viral load and presence of infectious virus in the respiratory tract are crucial factors for estimating infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the characteristics of viral shedding is important for public health interventions as shedding of infectious virus is necessary for onward transmission. Viral shedding is influenced by virus biology, host factors, and pre-existing immunity. Higher viral load increases the risk of human-to-human transmission.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Viviane Richard, Roxane Dumont, Elsa Lorthe, Andrea Loizeau, Helene Baysson, Maria-Eugenia Zaballa, Francesco Pennacchio, Remy P. Barbe, Klara Posfay-Barbe, Idris Guessous, Silvia Stringhini
Summary: This study investigated the medium-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing and mental health of children and adolescents. The results showed that 12.7% of participants experienced a severe impact, which was associated with worsened health-related quality of life and mental health. This study indicates that the pandemic may have persistent consequences on children and adolescents, especially those with health and family vulnerabilities.
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY AND MENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Vladimir L. L. Cousin, Robert Rodriguez-Vigouroux, Oliver Karam, Peter Rimensberger, Klara M. M. Posfay-Barbe
Summary: This retrospective study investigated the occurrence of infections in patients receiving Veno-arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The study found that 34% of patients developed infections during VA-ECMO support, with infections occurring early and potentially prolonging the duration of VA-ECMO support and PICU length of stay.
Review
Pediatrics
Jutta Preiksaitis, Upton Allen, Catherine M. Bollard, Vikas R. Dharnidharka, Daniel E. Dulek, Michael Green, Olivia M. Martinez, Diana M. Metes, Marian G. Michaels, Francoise Smets, Richard E. Chinnock, Patrizia Comoli, Lara Danziger-Isakov, Anne I. Dipchand, Carlos O. Esquivel, Judith A. Ferry, Thomas G. Gross, Robert J. Hayashi, Britta Hoecker, Arnaud G. L'Huillier, Stephen D. Marks, George Vincent Mazariegos, James Squires, Steven H. Swerdlow, Ralf U. Trappe, Gary Visner, Steven A. Webber, James D. Wilkinson, Brtitta Maecker-Kolhoff
Summary: The International Pediatric Transplant Association gathered experts to assess current evidence and develop recommendations for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) in children. The report reviewed literature on Epstein-Barr viral load and other biomarkers in peripheral blood for predicting and diagnosing PTLD, as well as monitoring treatment response. Key recommendations included using the term EBV DNAemia, concerns with comparing results between institutions, and the use of whole blood or plasma for EBV DNA measurement depending on clinical context. While quantitative EBV DNAemia surveillance was recommended for pre-transplant EBV seronegative patients at risk for PTLD, surveillance for pediatric SOT recipients with pre-transplant EBV seropositivity was not recommended. Additional markers and data from multicenter studies were highlighted as research priorities.
PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stephanie Baggio, Leonel Goncalves, Patrick Heller, Hans Wolff, Laurent Getaz
Summary: Providing insights on refusal to participate in research is critical to understand non-response bias. This study investigated non-response bias among detained persons by comparing those who accepted or refused to sign informed consent. The results showed that education level, health insurance status, need for another study language, health literacy, and region of origin were important predictors of the decision to sign the consent. Clinical characteristics were not significantly associated with response. Efforts should be made to reach this vulnerable population and ensure equitable distribution of research benefits.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gregoire Michielin, Fatemeh Arefi, Olha Puhach, Mathilde Bellon, Pascale Sattonnet-Roche, Arnaud G. L'Huillier, Isabella Eckerle, Benjamin Meyer, Sebastian J. Maerkl
Summary: This study evaluates the diagnostic performance of dried blood microsampling combined with a high-throughput microfluidic nano-immunoassay (NIA) for identifying anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG seropositivity. The results show that the combination of microsampling and NIA achieves a clinical sensitivity of 98.33% and specificity of 97.62% in individuals 11 months post infection, demonstrating the high performance of NIA.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Javier Perez-Saez, Maria-Eugenia Zaballa, Julien Lamour, Sabine Yerly, Richard Dubos, Delphine Courvoisier, Jennifer Villers, Jean-Francois Balavoine, Didier Pittet, Omar Kherad, Nicolas Vuilleumier, Laurent Kaiser, Idris Guessous, Silvia Stringhini, Andrew Azman
Summary: The study investigates the relationship between antibody dynamics and Omicron infection in a cohort from Geneva, Switzerland. The results suggest that antibody levels are correlates of protection against Omicron BA.1/BA.2 infection in individuals previously infected by SARS-CoV-2.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
M. T. Ngo Nsoga, F. J. Perez-Rodriguez, A. Mamin, A. G. L'Huillier, A. Cherkaoui, L. Kaiser, M. Schibler
Summary: Microbiological testing is often excessive in the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) infections, leading to unnecessary laboratory work and costs. The modified Reller criteria have been developed to reduce unnecessary testing for herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) when suspecting encephalitis. This retrospective study demonstrates that applying the modified Reller criteria could safely reduce unnecessary microbiological testing in the diagnosis of CNS infections.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Editorial Material
Surgery
Klara M. Posfay-Barbe, Lara Danziger-Isakov
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
P. A. U. L. I. N. E. Billaux, J. O. E. L. Billieux, STePHANIE Baggio, P. I. E. R. R. E. Maurage, MAeVA Flayelle
Summary: Applying a cut-off-based approach in the context of binge-watching has its pitfalls, as demonstrated by the lack of reliable cut-off scores in a widely used assessment instrument. This challenges the traditional diagnostic approach in the research field of behavioral addictions.
JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL ADDICTIONS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Elsa Lorthe, Viviane Richard, Roxane Dumont, Andrea Loizeau, Javier Perez-Saez, Helene Baysson, Maria -Eugenia Zaballa, Julien Lamour, Nick Pullen, Stephanie Schrempft, Remy P. Barbe, Idris Guessous, Silvia Stringhini, SEROCoV KIDS study Grp
Summary: This study examines how demographic characteristics and socioeconomic dimensions intersect to shape the social patterning of quality of life and mental health in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate that there are significant differences in health-related quality of life across social strata, particularly among adolescents and those experiencing financial hardship. However, the variation in the predicted frequency of mental health difficulties is limited.
SSM-POPULATION HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Helene Baysson, Nick Pullen, Carlos de Mestral, Claire Semaani, Francesco Pennacchio, Maria-Eugenia Zaballa, Arnaud G. L'Huillier, Elsa Lorthe, Idris Guessous, Silvia Stringhini
Summary: This study examined factors associated with parental willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. The results showed that willingness to vaccinate children was high for parents of adolescents but decreased significantly with decreasing child age. Unvaccinated, socioeconomically disadvantaged parents and those with younger children were less likely to be willing to vaccinate their children. These results are important for vaccination programs and developing communication strategies to reach vaccine-hesitant groups.
SWISS MEDICAL WEEKLY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Maria-Eugenia Zaballa, Javier Perez-Saez, Carlos de Mestral, Nick Pullen, Julien Lamour, Priscilla Turelli, Charlene Raclot, Helene Baysson, Francesco Pennacchio, Jennifer Villers, Julien Duc, Viviane Richard, Roxane Dumont, Claire Semaani, Andrea Jutta Loizeau, Clement Graindorge, Elsa Lorthe, Jean-Francois Balavoine, Didier Pittet, Manuel Schibler, Nicolas Vuilleumier, Francois Chappuis, Omar Kherad, Andrew S. Azman, Klara M. Posfay-Barbe, Laurent Kaiser, Didier Trono, Silvia Stringhini, Idris Guessous
Summary: In Geneva, Switzerland, over 93.8% of the population has developed anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, with 72.4% acquired through infection. However, there is lower neutralization capacity against the Omicron BA.5 subvariant, especially in children under 12 years old. Additional booster doses after vaccination and infection can enhance neutralization capacity.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-EUROPE
(2023)
