A Global Collaborative Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Antigenicity Across 15 Laboratories.

Setting up a global SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system requires an understanding of how virus isolation and propagation practices, use of animal or human sera, and different neutralisation assay platforms influence assessment of SARS-CoV-2 antigenicity. In this study, with the contribution of 15 independent laboratories across all WHO regions, we carried out a controlled analysis of neutralisation assay platforms using the first WHO International Standard for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (source: NIBSC). Live virus isolates (source: WHO BioHub or individual labs) or spike plasmids (individual labs) for pseudovirus production were used to perform neutralisation assays using the same serum panels.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with altered tryptophan metabolism and dysregulated inflammatory response in COVID-19.

The clinical course of COVID-19 is variable and often unpredictable. To test the hypothesis that disease progression and inflammatory responses associate with alterations in the microbiome and metabolome, we analyzed metagenome, metabolome, cytokine, and transcriptome profiles of repeated samples from hospitalized COVID-19 patients and uninfected controls, and leveraged clinical information and post-hoc confounder analysis. Severe COVID-19 was associated with a depletion of beneficial intestinal microbes, whereas oropharyngeal microbiota disturbance was mainly linked to antibiotic use.

Antigenic cartography using variant-specific hamster sera reveals substantial antigenic variation among Omicron subvariants.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has developed substantial antigenic variability. As the majority of the population now has pre-existing immunity due to infection or vaccination, the use of experimentally generated animal immune sera can be valuable for measuring antigenic differences between virus variants. Here, we immunized Syrian hamsters by two successive infections with one of nine SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Reemergence of Clade IIb-Associated Mpox, Germany, July-December 2023.

In July 2023, clade IIb-associated mpox reemerged in Germany at low levels, mainly affecting men who have sex with men. We report a representative case and phylogeny of available genome sequences. Our findings underscore the need for standardized surveillance and indication-based vaccination to limit transmission and help prevent endemicity.

SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test sensitivity and viral load in newly symptomatic hospital employees in Berlin, Germany, December, 2020 to February, 2022: an observational study.

Background: Evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants and changing levels of pre-existing immunity require re-evaluation of antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) performance. We investigated possible associations between Ag-RDT sensitivity and various potential influencing factors, such as immunisation status and viral variant, in symptomatic hospital employees.

Methods: In this observational study, RT-PCR, Ag-RDT, and symptom-specific data were collected at three SARS-CoV-2 test centres for employees of the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin hospital (Berlin, Germany).

Bat species assemblage predicts coronavirus prevalence.

Anthropogenic disturbances and the subsequent loss of biodiversity are altering species abundances and communities. Since species vary in their pathogen competence, spatio-temporal changes in host assemblages may lead to changes in disease dynamics. We explore how longitudinal changes in bat species assemblages affect the disease dynamics of coronaviruses (CoVs) in more than 2300 cave-dwelling bats captured over two years from five caves in Ghana.

Clinical spectrum and long-term outcomes of mpox: a cohort study spanning from acute infection to six-month follow-up.

Background: Cases of mpox have been reported worldwide since May 2022. Limited knowledge exists regarding the long-term course of this disease. To assess sequelae in terms of scarring and quality of life (QoL) in mpox patients 4-6 months after initial infection.

Biphasic MERS-CoV Incidence in Nomadic Dromedaries with Putative Transmission to Humans, Kenya, 2022-2023.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is endemic in dromedaries in Africa, but camel-to-human transmission is limited. Sustained 12-month sampling of dromedaries in a Kenya abattoir hub showed biphasic MERS-CoV incidence; peak detections occurred in October 2022 and February 2023. Dromedary-exposed abattoir workers (7/48) had serologic signs of previous MERS-CoV exposure.

Proteomic and transcriptomic profiling of brainstem, cerebellum and olfactory tissues in early- and late-phase COVID-19.

Neurological symptoms, including cognitive impairment and fatigue, can occur in both the acute infection phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and at later stages, yet the mechanisms that contribute to this remain unclear. Here we profiled single-nucleus transcriptomes and proteomes of brainstem tissue from deceased individuals at various stages of COVID-19. We detected an inflammatory type I interferon response in acute COVID-19 cases, which resolves in the late disease phase.

Immunogenetic-pathogen networks shrink in Tome's spiny rat, a generalist rodent inhabiting disturbed landscapes.

Anthropogenic disturbance may increase the emergence of zoonoses. Especially generalists that cope with disturbance and live in close contact with humans and livestock may become reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. Yet, whether anthropogenic disturbance modifies host-pathogen co-evolutionary relationships in generalists is unknown.

Humoral immune escape by current SARS-CoV-2 variants BA.2.86 and JN.1, December 2023.

Variant BA.2.86 and its descendant, JN.

Deep RNA sequencing of muscle tissue reveals absence of viral signatures in dermatomyositis.

: To explore a possible connection between active viral infections and manifestation of dermatomyositis (DM). Skeletal muscle biopsies were analyzed from patients diagnosed with juvenile (n=10) and adult (n=12) DM. Adult DM patients harbored autoantibodies against either TIF-1γ (n=7) or MDA5 (n=5).

A bead-based multiplex assay covering all coronaviruses pathogenic for humans for sensitive and specific surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity.

Serological assays measuring antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are key to describe the epidemiology, pathobiology or induction of immunity after infection or vaccination. Of those, multiplex assays targeting multiple antigens are especially helpful as closely related coronaviruses or other antigens can be analysed simultaneously from small sample volumes, hereby shedding light on patterns in the immune response that would otherwise remain undetected. We established a bead-based 17-plex assay detecting antibodies targeting antigens from all coronaviruses pathogenic for humans: SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, HCoV strains 229E, OC43, HKU1, and NL63.

Ecological and clinical evidence of the establishment of West Nile virus in a large urban area in Europe, Berlin, Germany, 2021 to 2022.

BackgroundWest Nile virus (WNV), found in Berlin in birds since 2018 and humans since 2019, is a mosquito-borne virus that can manifest in humans as West Nile fever (WNF) or neuroinvasive disease (WNND). However, human WNV infections and associated disease are likely underdiagnosed.AimWe aimed to identify and genetically characterise WNV infections in humans and mosquitoes in Berlin.

Characterization of intrinsic and effective fitness changes caused by temporarily fixed mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike E484 epitope and identification of an epistatic precondition for the evolution of E484A in variant Omicron.

Background: Intrinsic fitness costs are likely to have guided the selection of lineage-determining mutations during emergence of variants of SARS-CoV-2. Whereas changes in receptor affinity and antibody neutralization have been thoroughly mapped for individual mutations in spike, their influence on intrinsic replicative fitness remains understudied.

Methods: We analyzed mutations in immunodominant spike epitope E484 that became temporarily fixed over the pandemic.

Comparative Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Antigenicity across Assays and in Human and Animal Model Sera.

The antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 requires ongoing monitoring to judge the immune escape of newly arising variants. A surveillance system necessitates an understanding of differences in neutralization titers measured in different assays and using human and animal sera. We compared 18 datasets generated using human, hamster, and mouse sera, and six different neutralization assays.

Divergent Genotype of Hepatitis A Virus in Alpacas, Bolivia, 2019.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a common human pathogen found exclusively in primates. In a molecular and serologic study of 64 alpacas in Bolivia, we detected RNA of distinct HAV in ≈9% of animals and HAV antibodies in ≈64%. Complete-genome analysis suggests a long association of HAV with alpacas.