Nebulised interferon-β1a (SNG001) in hospitalised COVID-19: SPRINTER phase III study.

Background: Despite the availability of vaccines and therapies, patients are being hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Interferon (IFN)-β is a naturally occurring protein that stimulates host immune responses against most viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. SNG001 is a recombinant IFN-β1a formulation delivered to the lungs nebuliser.

Increase in recruitment upon integration of trial into a clinical care pathway: an observational study.

Introduction: Many respiratory clinical trials fail to reach their recruitment target and this problem exacerbates existing funding issues. Integration of the clinical trial recruitment process into a clinical care pathway (CCP) may represent an effective way to significantly increase recruitment numbers.

Methods: A respiratory support unit and a CCP for escalation of patients with severe COVID-19 were established on 11 January 2021.

Novel M tuberculosis antigen-specific T-cells are early markers of infection and disease progression.

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis Region-of-Difference-1 gene products present opportunities for specific diagnosis of M. tuberculosis infection, yet immune responses to only two gene-products, Early Secretory Antigenic Target-6 (ESAT-6) and Culture Filtrate Protein-10 (CFP-10), have been comprehensively investigated.

Methods: T-cell responses to Rv3873, Rv3878 and Rv3879c were quantified by IFN-γ-enzyme-linked-immunospot (ELISpot) in 846 children with recent household tuberculosis exposure and correlated with kinetics of tuberculin skin test (TST) and ESAT-6/CFP-10-ELISpot conversion over six months and clinical outcome over two years.

Frequencies of region of difference 1 antigen-specific but not purified protein derivative-specific gamma interferon-secreting T cells correlate with the presence of tuberculosis disease but do not distinguish recent from remote latent infections.

The majority of individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis achieve lifelong immune containment of the bacillus. What constitutes this effective host immune response is poorly understood. We compared the frequencies of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-secreting T cells specific for five region of difference 1 (RD1)-encoded antigens and one DosR-encoded antigen in 205 individuals either with active disease (n = 167), whose immune responses had failed to contain the bacillus, or with remotely acquired latent infection (n = 38), who had successfully achieved immune control, and a further 149 individuals with recently acquired asymptomatic infection.

Use of T cell-based diagnosis of tuberculosis infection to optimize interpretation of tuberculin skin testing for child tuberculosis contacts.

Background: Treatment of recent tuberculosis infection in children aged <2 years is essential, because of high risk of progression to disease, but diagnosis is hindered by the inaccuracy of the tuberculin skin test (TST). More-accurate T cell-based tests of infection could enhance diagnosis by optimizing interpretation of the TST results.

Methods: A total of 979 child tuberculosis contacts in Istanbul underwent the TST and enzyme-linked immunospot assay.

Prognostic value of a T-cell-based, interferon-gamma biomarker in children with tuberculosis contact.

Background: Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay is an increasingly widely used, T-cell-based, interferon-gamma-release assay for diagnosing tuberculosis infection, but whether positive results are prognostic of active tuberculosis is not known.

Objective: To determine whether ELISpot results predict the development of active tuberculosis among persons with recent tuberculosis exposure.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study of children and adolescents with tuberculosis contact recruited from October 2002 to April 2004.

Improved diagnostic evaluation of suspected tuberculosis.

Background: The role of new T-cell-based blood tests for tuberculosis in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis is unclear.

Objective: To compare the performance of 2 interferon-gamma assays and tuberculin skin testing in adults with suspected tuberculosis.

Design: Prospective study conducted in routine practice.

Dynamic relationship between IFN-gamma and IL-2 profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific T cells and antigen load.

Distinct IFN-gamma and IL-2 profiles of Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells have recently been associated with different clinical disease states and Ag loads in viral infections. We assessed the kinetics and functional profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ag-specific T cells secreting IFN-gamma and IL-2 in 23 patients with untreated active tuberculosis when bacterial and Ag loads are high and after curative treatment, when Ag load is reduced. The frequencies of M.