Sociodemographic influences on private and professional contact behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: cross-sectional analysis based on a Regional Blood Donor Cohort.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant health and socioeconomic impacts worldwide. Extensive measures, including contact restrictions, were implemented to control the spread of the virus. This study aims to examine the factors that influenced private and professional contact behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patient-tailored adoptive immunotherapy with EBV-specific T cells from related and unrelated donors.

BACKGROUNDAdoptive transfer of EBV-specific T cells can restore specific immunity in immunocompromised patients with EBV-associated complications.METHODSWe provide results of a personalized T cell manufacturing program evaluating donor, patient, T cell product, and outcome data. Patient-tailored clinical-grade EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (EBV-CTL) products from stem cell donors (SCDs), related third-party donors (TPDs), or unrelated TPDs from the allogeneic T cell donor registry (alloCELL) at Hannover Medical School were manufactured by immunomagnetic selection using a CliniMACS Plus or Prodigy device and the EBV PepTivators EBNA-1 and Select.

Monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Prevalence of Antibodies in a Large, Repetitive Cross-Sectional Study of Blood Donors in Germany-Results from the SeBluCo Study 2020-2022.

SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance is important to adapt infection control measures and estimate the degree of underreporting. Blood donor samples can be used as a proxy for the healthy adult population. In a repeated cross-sectional study from April 2020 to April 2021, September 2021, and April/May 2022, 13 blood establishments collected 134,510 anonymised specimens from blood donors in 28 study regions across Germany.

Cohort profile: a longitudinal regional cohort study to assess COVID-19 seroprevalence in blood donors - baseline characteristics of the SeMaCo study participants.

Purpose: The SeMaCo study (Serologische Untersuchungen bei Blutspendern des Großraums Magdeburg auf Antikörper gegen SARS-CoV-2), a prospective, longitudinal cohort study with four survey phases spanning 3-5 months each over a period of 22 months, extends the spectrum of seroepidemiological studies in Germany. We present here a careful characterisation of the initial survey phase of the cohort to provide baseline data on infection incidence and obtained from questionnaires, focussing in particular on the attitude towards COVID-19 vaccinations, the vaccination success and the vaccination acceptance.

Participants: A total of 2195 individual blood donors from the donor pool of the blood donation service of the University Hospital Magdeburg were enrolled in the initial survey phase from 20 January 2021 to 30 April 2021.

PD-1/PD-L1 Control of Antigen-Specifically Activated CD4 T-Cells of Neonates.

Newborns are highly susceptible to infections; however, the underlying mechanisms that regulate the anti-microbial T-helper cells shortly after birth remain incompletely understood. To address neonatal antigen-specific human T-cell responses against bacteria, () was used as a model pathogen and comparatively analyzed in terms of the polyclonal staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) superantigen responses. Here, we report that neonatal CD4 T-cells perform activation-induced events upon /APC-encounter including the expression of CD40L and PD-1, as well as the production of Th1 cytokines, concomitant to T-cell proliferation.

IL-13 determines specific IgE responses and SARS-CoV-2 immunity after mild COVID-19 and novel mRNA vaccination.

After recovery, mild and severe COVID-19 diseases are associated with long-term effects on the host immune system, such as prolonged T-cell activation or accumulation of autoantibodies. In this study, we show that mild SARS-CoV-2 infections, but not SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA vaccinations, cause durable atopic risk factors such as a systemic Th2- and Th17-type environment as well as activation of B cells responsive of IgE against aeroallergens from house dust mite and mold. At an average of 100 days post mild SARS-CoV-2 infections, anti-mold responses were associated with low IL-13 levels and increased pro-inflammatory IL-6 titers.

Predictive value of C-reactive protein for radiographic spinal progression in axial spondyloarthritis in dependence on genetic determinants of fibrin clot formation and fibrinolysis.

Objective: Genetic determinants of fibrin clot formation and fibrinolysis have an impact on local and systemic inflammatory response. The aim of the present study was to assess whether coagulation-related genotypes affect the predictive value of C-reactive protein (CRP) in regards of radiographic spinal progression in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: Two hundred and eight patients with axSpA from the German Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort were characterised for genotypes of α-fibrinogen, β-fibrinogen (FGB) and γ-fibrinogen, factor XIII A-subunit (F13A) and α-antiplasmin (A2AP).

A combined oro-nasopharyngeal swab is more sensitive than mouthwash in detecting SARS-CoV-2 by a high-throughput PCR assay.

Objectives: The optimal diagnostic specimen to detect SARS-CoV-2 by PCR in the upper respiratory tract is unclear. Mouthwash fluid has been reported as an alternative to nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. We compared mouthwash fluid with a combined oro-nasopharyngeal swab regarding test performance.

Relation of α-Antiplasmin Genotype and Genetic Determinants of Fibrinogen Synthesis and Fibrin Clot Formation with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Level in Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: Coagulation and fibrinolysis are interrelated with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which frequently is increased in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). We tested whether (i) α-antiplasmin (A2AP) Arg6Trp, (ii) fibrinogen, factor XIII A-subunit or B-subunit genotypes are associated with VEGF levels and assessed whether the known association between elevated VEGF and radiographic spinal progression in axSpA depends on genetic background.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-six axSpA patients from the German Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort were genotyped, characterized for VEGF levels, and statistically analyzed.

Transfer of Hexon- and Penton-selected adenovirus-specific T cells for refractory adenovirus infection after haploidentical stem cell transplantation.

Adenovirus (HAdV) infections confer a high risk of morbidity and mortality for immunocompromised patients after stem cell transplantation (SCT). Treatment with standard antiviral drugs is of limited efficacy and associated with a high rate of adverse effects. HAdV-specific T cells are crucial for sustained viral elimination and the efficacy of adoptive T-cell therapy with donor-derived HAdV-specific T cells has been reported by several investigators.

Adenosine stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients undergoing intracoronary bone marrow cell transfer after ST-elevation myocardial infarction: the BOOST-2 perfusion substudy.

Aims: In the placebo-controlled, double-blind BOne marrOw transfer to enhance ST-elevation infarct regeneration (BOOST) 2 trial, intracoronary autologous bone marrow cell (BMC) transfer did not improve recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 6 months in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and moderately reduced LVEF. Regional myocardial perfusion as determined by adenosine stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (S-CMR) may be more sensitive than global LVEF in detecting BMC treatment effects. Here, we sought to evaluate (i) the changes of myocardial perfusion in the infarct area over time (ii) the effects of BMC therapy on infarct perfusion, and (iii) the relation of infarct perfusion to LVEF recovery at 6 months.

Dissecting Epstein-Barr Virus-Specific T-Cell Responses After Allogeneic EBV-Specific T-Cell Transfer for Central Nervous System Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disease.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) with central nervous system (CNS) involvement is a severe complication after solid organ transplantation. Standard treatment with reduction of immunosuppression and anti-CD20 antibody application often fails leading to poor outcome. Here, we report the case of an 11-year-old boy with multilocular EBV-positive CNS PTLD 10 years after liver transplantation.

Donor Safety in Haemapheresis: Development of an Internet-Based Registry for Comprehensive Assessment of Adverse Events from Healthy Donors.

Background: Currently, there is an extensive but highly inconsistent body of literature regarding donor adverse events (AEs) in haemapheresis. As the reports diverge with respect to types and grading of AEs, apheresis procedures and machines, the range of haemapheresis-related AEs varies widely from about 0.03% to 6.

Intracoronary autologous bone marrow cell transfer after myocardial infarction: the BOOST-2 randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Aims: Intracoronary infusion of autologous nucleated bone marrow cells (BMCs) enhanced the recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the randomised-controlled, open-label BOOST trial. We reassessed the therapeutic potential of nucleated BMCs in the randomised placebo-controlled, double-blind BOOST-2 trial conducted in 10 centres in Germany and Norway.

Methods And Results: Using a multiple arm design, we investigated the dose-response relationship and explored whether γ-irradiation which eliminates the clonogenic potential of stem and progenitor cells has an impact on BMC efficacy.

Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neutrophil granulocytes from common marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus).

Background: Inherited and acquired marrow failure syndromes most commonly lead to defect in myeloid and/or neutrophil differentiation and/or function. Besides this, neutropenia induced by cancer-adjusted chemotherapy is a frequent clinical problem. In both cases, cell replacement therapy is a well-established, but due to necessity of donors limited and perilous procedure.

Comparative Analysis of Clinical-Scale IFN-γ-Positive T-Cell Enrichment Using Partially and Fully Integrated Platforms.

Background And Aims: The infusion of enriched CMV-specific donor T-cells appears to be a suitable alternative for the treatment of drug-resistant CMV reactivation or infection after both solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Antiviral lymphocytes can be selected from apheresis products using the CliniMACS Cytokine-Capture-System either with the well-established CliniMACS Plus (Plus) device or with its more versatile successor CliniMACS Prodigy (Prodigy).

Methods: Manufacturing of CMV-specific T-cells was carried out with the Prodigy and Plus in parallel starting with 0.

Red cell allo- and autoimmunisation in transfused sickle cell and cancer patients in Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Currently, no data are available on the prevalence of red blood cell (RBC) antibody formation amongst Kenyan patients with multiple transfusion needs, such as patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) or haematological malignancies (HM) and solid (SM) malignancies.

Objectives: We determined the prevalence and specificities of RBC alloantibodies and autoantibodies in two patient groups with recurrent transfusion demands at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.

Method: Between February and August 2014, 300 samples from SCD, HM and SM patients were collected and screened for alloantibodies.

Rapid generation of clinical-grade antiviral T cells: selection of suitable T-cell donors and GMP-compliant manufacturing of antiviral T cells.

Background: The adoptive transfer of allogeneic antiviral T lymphocytes derived from seropositive donors can safely and effectively reduce or prevent the clinical manifestation of viral infections or reactivations in immunocompromised recipients after hematopoietic stem cell (HSCT) or solid organ transplantation (SOT). Allogeneic third party T-cell donors offer an alternative option for patients receiving an allogeneic cord blood transplant or a transplant from a virus-seronegative donor and since donor blood is generally not available for solid organ recipients. Therefore we established a registry of potential third-party T-cell donors (allogeneic cell registry, alloCELL) providing detailed data on the assessment of a specific individual memory T-cell repertoire in response to antigens of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), adenovirus (ADV), and human herpesvirus (HHV) 6.