Differential decline of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels, innate and adaptive immune cells, and shift of Th1/inflammatory to Th2 serum cytokine levels long after first COVID-19.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 has triggered a pandemic and contributes to long-lasting morbidity. Several studies have investigated immediate cellular and humoral immune responses during acute infection. However, little is known about long-term effects of COVID-19 on the immune system.

Genotypic cluster analysis of reveals a spectrum of sexual mixing including among HIV-serodiscordant men who have sex with men.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are more vulnerable to acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In 2019, for instance, 74% of European (Ng) cases among males affected MSM. A recent report by the World Health Organization showed that most of the 2020' interim targets to end STIs by 2030 had not been met.

Scars are frequently found as late sequelae in individuals affected by the 2022 mpox outbreak.

Background: The 2022 mpox outbreak continues, and while progress has been made in prevention strategies and potential treatment options, data on late sequelae following mpox are scarce.

Objective: This analysis aimed to assess the incidence of scar formation in individuals affected by the 2022 mpox outbreak.

Methods: All individuals diagnosed with mpox at the Department of Dermatology at the Medical University of Vienna in 2022 were included in this analysis.

Flow Cytometry-Based Measurement of Antibodies Specific for Cell Surface-Expressed Folded SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domains.

Background: COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has now become endemic and is currently one of the important respiratory virus infections regularly affecting mankind. The assessment of immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants is important for guiding active and passive immunization and SARS-CoV-2-specific treatment strategies.

Methods: We here devised a novel flow cytometry-based diagnostic platform for the assessment of immunity against cell-bound virus antigens.

Associations between change in BMI and the risk of hypertension and dyslipidaemia in people receiving integrase strand-transfer inhibitors, tenofovir alafenamide, or both compared with other contemporary antiretroviral regimens: a multicentre, prospective observational study from the RESPOND consortium cohorts.

Background: Integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) and tenofovir alafenamide have been associated with weight gain in several clinical trials and observational cohorts. However, whether weight gain associated with INSTIs and tenofovir alafenamide confers a higher risk of weight-related clinical events is unclear. We aimed to assess whether changes in BMI differentially increase hypertension or dyslipidaemia risk in people with HIV receiving INSTIs, tenofovir alafenamide, or both versus other contemporary regimens.

Sexually Transmitted Dermatophytes Can Cause Severe Infection Among Men who Have Sex With Men as Tinea Genitalis.

Very limited data on tinea genitalis, a potentially severe dermatophytosis transmitted during sexual intercourse affecting the genital area, suggest its potential to cause outbreaks. Thus, we investigated genital dermatophyte infections at an HIV/sexually transmitted infection clinic and identified 17 men who have sex with men (all people with HIV or pre-exposure prophylaxis users) diagnosed with tinea genitalis.

Interrogating ligand-receptor interactions using highly sensitive cellular biosensors.

Interactions of membrane-resident proteins are important targets for therapeutic interventions but most methods to study them are either costly, laborious or fail to reflect the physiologic interaction of membrane resident proteins in trans. Here we describe highly sensitive cellular biosensors as a tool to study receptor-ligand pairs. They consist of fluorescent reporter cells that express chimeric receptors harboring ectodomains of cell surface molecules and intracellular signaling domains.

Biomarker-based risk prediction for the onset of neuroinflammation in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.

Background: X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is highly variable, ranging from slowly progressive adrenomyeloneuropathy to severe brain demyelination and inflammation (cerebral ALD, CALD) affecting males with childhood peak onset. Risk models integrating blood-based biomarkers to indicate CALD onset, enabling timely interventions, are lacking. Therefore, we evaluated the prognostic value of blood biomarkers in addition to current neuroimaging predictors for early detection of CALD.

No evidence of asymptomatic monkeypox infection in a highly sexually active MSM population in Austria.

Background: The 2022 outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV) revealed new transmission routes. Incidence declined sharply in September 2022, and it remains unclear whether MPXV is circulating in asymptomatic individuals because of increased immunity.

Objectives: Our study aimed to assesss the number of asymtomatic MPXV carriers in individuals at high risk for STI.

FcγR requirements and costimulatory capacity of Urelumab, Utomilumab, and Varlilumab.

Introduction: Targeting costimulatory receptors of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily with agonistic antibodies is a promising approach in cancer immuno therapy. It is known that their efficacy strongly depends on FcγR cross-linking.

Methods: In this study, we made use of a Jurkat-based reporter platform to analyze the influence of individual FcγRs on the costimulatory activity of the 41BB agonists, Urelumab and Utomilumab, and the CD27 agonist, Varlilumab.

Glycopeptide Antibiotics Impair Neutrophil Effector Functions.

Introduction: Neutrophilic granulocytes represent the first line of defense against microorganisms. Granulocytes phagocytose microorganisms and specifically synthesize oxygen radicals against them, which eventually kills the invaders.

Methods: Neutrophilic granulocytes were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy volunteer donors.

The frequency of differentiated CD3CD27CD28 T cells predicts response to CART cell therapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) cell therapy targeting the B cell specific differentiation antigen CD19 has shown clinical efficacy in a subset of relapsed/refractory (r/r) diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Despite this heterogeneous response, blood pre-infusion biomarkers predicting responsiveness to CART cell therapy are currently understudied.

Methods: Blood cell and serum markers, along with clinical data of DLBCL patients who were scheduled for CART cell therapy were evaluated to search for biomarkers predicting CART cell responsiveness.

Progress of Hepatitis C elimination in Viennese people living with HIV after two decades of increasing cure rates.

Background & Aims: Interferon(IFN)-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy has been replaced by direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). We assessed temporal trends in patient characteristics, transmission risks, treatment initiation, and cure rates in eras of IFN, restricted DAA-access, and unrestricted DAA-access in Viennese HCV/HIV-coinfected patients (HIV/HCV).

Methods: Consecutive HIV/HCV-coinfected patients starting HCV treatment at the Vienna General Hospital between 2002 and 2020 were retrospectively enrolled.

A homozygous AP3D1 missense variant in patients with sensorineural hearing loss as the leading manifestation.

Loss-of-function variants in AP3D1 have been linked to Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) 10, a severe multisystem disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism, immunodeficiency, neurodevelopmental delay, hearing loss (HL), and neurological abnormalities, fatal in early childhood. Here, we report a consanguineous family who presented with presumably isolated autosomal recessive (AR) HL. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on all core family members, and selected patients were screened using array-based copy-number analysis and karyotyping.

Reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the second COVID-19 vaccination in patients with inborn errors of immunity or mannan-binding lectin deficiency.

Background: Patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are at increased risk for severe courses of SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19 vaccination provides effective protection in healthy individuals. However, it remains unclear whether vaccination is efficient and safe in patients with constitutional dysfunctions of the immune system.

BTLA inhibition has a dominant role in the -complex of BTLA and HVEM.

The engagement of the herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM, TNFRSF14) by the B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) represents a unique interaction between an activating receptor of the TNFR-superfamily and an inhibitory receptor of the Ig-superfamily. BTLA and HVEM have both been implicated in the regulation of human T cell responses, but their role is complex and incompletely understood. Here, we have used T cell reporter systems to dissect the complex interplay of HVEM with BTLA and its additional ligands LIGHT and CD160.