Neutralizing Antibodies Targeting BK Polyomavirus: Clinical Importance and Therapeutic Potential for Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Most of the world's adult population is latently infected by the BK polyomavirus. It causes asymptomatic infection in healthy individuals but emerged as a threat to kidney transplant recipients because of virus-associated nephropathy caused by immunosuppressive therapy. In these conditions, when a functional cellular response is impaired by immunosuppression, neutralizing antibodies may play a major role because they can directly prevent infection of target cells, independently of cell-mediated immunity, by binding to the viral particles.

DORAVIR: a French national survey of people with HIV-1 treated with an antiretroviral regimen including doravirine.

Background: Doravirine is the latest NNRTI to be approved for the treatment of HIV-1 and has a different resistance profile from first-generation NNRTIs. Our aim was to investigate the virological efficacy of antiretroviral treatment including doravirine in people living with HIV-1 (PLWHIV), the factors associated with virological failure (VF) and those associated with the emergence of reverse transcriptase (RT) mutations in the case of VF.

Methods: A retrospective national survey of PLWHIV who were either naive or experienced on antiretroviral treatment including doravirine was conducted.

Molecular epidemiology and risk factors associated with BK and JC polyomavirus urinary shedding after kidney allograft.

Polyomaviruses BK (BKPyV) and JC (JCPyV), belonging to the Polyomaviridae, are responsible for human pathologies. In kidney transplant recipients, BKPyV replication can lead to irreversible nephron damage whereas JCPyV replication remains asymptomatic. Concomitant replication is rare and potential competition between the infections has been described.

Performance evaluation of the Access HBsAg and Access HBsAg confirmatory assays on the DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer.

Introduction: This study evaluated the clinical and analytical performances of the Access HBsAg and the Access HBsAg Confirmatory assays on the DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer (Beckman Coulter, Inc.).

Materials And Methods: Diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of the Access HBsAg and Access HBsAg Confirmatory assays were evaluated by comparing the Access assays to the final HBsAg sample status determined using the Architect, PRISM, or Elecsys HBsAg assays, along with Architect or PRISM HBsAg Confirmatory assays.

Epidemiology and Dynamics of BK Polyomavirus Replication after Kidney Transplantation.

Background/objectives: In the absence of an effective antiviral treatment for BK polyomavirus (BKPyV), a better understanding of the epidemiology and time course of BKPyV replication after kidney transplantation is needed to limit the virus's impact on the graft outcome.

Methods: In a 7-year study, we screened more than 430 kidney transplant recipients and analyzed the time course and virological characteristics of BKPyV replication.

Results: Urinary viral replication was observed in 116 (27%) of the 430 patients, and 90 of the 116 (78%) had viral DNAemia.

The value and complexity of studying cellular immunity against BK Polyomavirus in kidney transplant recipients.

BK Polyomavirus is of particular concern for kidney transplant recipients, due to their immunosuppression. This problem is exacerbated by the high effectiveness of antirejection therapies, which also compromise the organism's ability to fight viral infections. The long-term risk is loss of graft function through BKPyV-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN).

Comparison of two RT-qPCR methods targeting BK polyomavirus microRNAs in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: BK polyomavirus replication leads to progressive tubulointerstitial nephritis and ureteral stenosis, with a considerable risk of subsequent graft failure in kidney transplant recipients. Since specific antiviral therapies are lacking, new tools are required to enhance the biological monitoring of the infection. Viral microRNAs are promising new biomarkers, but the performance of RT-qPCR methods limits the clinical application and the validation of a standard method for quantification.

Evaluation of the ABL NGS assay for HIV-1 drug resistance testing.

HIV evolution and variability around the world requires special monitoring of the viral strains in infected people. High-throughput HIV sequencing and drug resistance testing techniques have become routinely available over the last few years. We conducted a study to assess the new CE-marked ABL NGS HIV genotyping assay on an Illumina® platform, to compare the results (the detection of resistance associated mutations (RAMs) detected in the three main targets: reverse transcriptase, protease, and integrase) with those produced by three Sanger-based assays, and to compare the assays' respective costs.

[Contribution of immunology: immune response to vaccination and limits].

Advances over the past 50 years in the field of vaccination and the exploration of the immune response offer positive prospects for the prevention of infectious diseases. However, there is still a long way to go to improve the efficacy and safety of vaccination for transplant recipients or immunocompromised patients in the broad sense. In these populations, the benefit/risk balance of vaccination is even more pronounced in favor than that of the general population.

Annexin-V positive extracellular vesicles level is increased in severe COVID-19 disease.

Objectives: To evaluate extracellular vesicles levels in a cohort of SARS-CoV-2's patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit with and without COVID-19 associated thromboembolic events.

Methods: In this study, we aim to assess endothelial and platelet membrane-derived extracellular vesicles levels in a cohort of SARS-CoV-2 patients with and without COVID-19-associated thromboembolic events who were hospitalized in an intensive care unit. Annexin-V positive extracellular vesicles levels were prospectively assessed by flow cytometry in one hundred twenty-three critically ill adults diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with a SARS-CoV-2 infection, ten adults diagnosed for moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection and 25 healthy volunteers.

BK virus genotypes and humoral response in kidney transplant recipients with BKV associated nephropathy.

Background: Among kidney transplant recipients (KTR) with BK virus associated nephropathy (BKVN), BKV genotypes' evolution and anti-BKV humoral response are not well established. We aim to analyze BKV replication and genetic evolution following transplantation, and characterize concomitant anti-BKV-VP1 humoral response.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 32 cases of biopsy-proven BKVN.

Thyrotropin Levels in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: Assessment during Hospitalization and in the Medium Term after Discharge.

Background: The objectives of this study were (1) to compare TSH levels between inpatients with critical versus non-critical coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), and (2) to describe the status of TSH levels three months after hospitalization.

Methods: We collected data on adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Amiens University Hospital. We compared TSH levels between inpatients with critical (intensive care unit admission and/or death) versus non-critical COVID-19.

BK Polyomavirus bkv-miR-B1-5p: A Stable Micro-RNA to Monitor Active Viral Replication after Kidney Transplantation.

Background: Bkv-miR-B1-5p is a viral micro-RNA (miRNA) specifically produced during BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) replication. Recent studies have suggested using bkv-miR-B1-5p as a biomarker to monitor viral infection and predict complications in kidney transplant patients. To identify the technical limitations of this miRNA quantification in biological samples, knowledge of its stability and distribution in the extracellular compartment is necessary.

Hospital-wide SARS-CoV-2 antibody screening of 4840 staff members in a University Medical Center in France: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Healthcare workers are more likely to be infected by SARS-CoV-2. In order to assess the infectious risk associated with working in a hospital, we sought to estimate the proportion of healthcare professionals infected with SARS-CoV-2 by screening staff in a University Medical Center in France.

Setting: A hospital-wide screening campaign (comprising a serological test and a questionnaire) ran from 18 May to 26 July 2020.

Is there a role for SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing in the post-containment strategy?

Background: With the availability and widespread deployment of antigenic tests for SARS-CoV-2 during the second epidemic wave in Europe, the performance of such tests in real-life situations is beginning to become available.

Objectives: The question of the role of these tests during periods of low circulation of the virus has been legitimately raised.

Study Design: We addressed this question by analyzing the results of more than 16,000 SARS-CoV-2 PCRs during the first half of 2020 in a French region heavily affected by COVID-19.

Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2-Neutralising Antibodies of Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities.

Introduction: Elderly residents of nursing homes (NHs) and long-term care units (LTCUs) have been shown to have a high risk of mortality and morbidity in cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The objective of this study was to examine the kinetics of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) directed against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in residents of the NH and LTCU units of our University Hospital who were identified with positive serology after the first epidemic outbreak.

Materials And Methods: The participants included were sampled every three months for qualitative serological testing, as well as quantitative testing by neutralization tests using retroviral particles containing the S glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2.

A multiplex serological assay for the characterization of IgG immune response to SARS-CoV-2.

In the fight against SARS-COV-2, the development of serological assays based on different antigenic domains represent a versatile tool to get a comprehensive picture of the immune response or differentiate infection from vaccination beyond simple diagnosis. Here we use a combination of the Nucleoprotein (NP), the Spike 1 (S1) and Spike 2 (S2) subunits, and the receptor binding domain (RBD) and N-terminal domain (NTD) of the Spike antigens from the CoViDiag® multiplex IgG assay, to follow the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection over a long time period and depending on disease severity. Using a panel of 209 sera collected from 61 patients up to eight months after infection, we observed that most patients develop an immune response against multiple viral epitope, but anti-S2 antibodies seemed to last longer.

COVID-19 serology in nursing homes and long-term care facilities: prevalence of seroconversion in the Amiens-Picardie University Hospital.

Introduction: Since December 2019, an emerging infectious viral disease triggered by SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic. Elderly people, being more fragile, are the most affected by the severity and lethality of this disease. The residential care facility for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) and the long-term care facilities at the Amiens University Hospital registered their first COVID-19 cases in February 2020, which lead to the opening of a dedicated COVID-19 unit and aspecific protocol for isolation.

Humoral anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune response after two doses of Comirnaty vaccine in nursing home residents by previous infection status.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in older adults. Although the advent of the first vaccines has significantly reduced these rates, data on older adults in clinical trials are scarce.

Objectives: We quantified and compared the humoral response in individuals with vs.

Impact of pre-graft serology on risk of BKPyV infection post-renal transplantation.

Objectives: BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy is a troublesome disease caused by BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) infection in immunocompromised renal graft recipients. There are no effective treatments available, making immunosuppression reduction the only management option. Thus, pre-graft predictive BKPyV replication markers are needed for identification of patients at high risk of viraemia.