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.

Nonhuman primate antigenic cartography of SARS-CoV-2.

Virus neutralization profiles against primary infection sera and corresponding antigenic cartography are integral part of the COVID-19 and influenza vaccine strain selection processes. Human single variant exposure sera have previously defined the antigenic relationships among SARS-CoV-2 variants but are now largely unavailable due to widespread population immunity. Therefore, antigenic characterization of future SARS-CoV-2 variants will require an animal model, analogous to using ferrets for influenza virus.

Long-term effectiveness of an ultra-rapid rollout vaccination campaign with BNT162b2 on the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In 2021, an ultra-rapid rollout vaccination campaign in the Schwaz district, Tyrol, Austria, delivered the COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 to 66.9% of eligible residents (dose 1: March 11-16, dose 2: April 8-13). Alongside the campaign, we recruited 11,955 residents into the prospective study REDUCE, of whom 3,859 participated in a booster vaccination initiative (November 20-28, 2021).

Small signal analysis for the characterization of organic electrochemical transistors.

A method for the characterization of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) based on small signal analysis is presented that allows to determine the electronic mobility as a function of continuous gate potential using a standard two-channel AC potentiostat. Vector analysis in the frequency domain allows to exclude parasitic components in both ionic and electronic conduction regardless of film thickness, thus resulting in a standard deviation as low as 4%. Besides the electronic mobility, small signal analysis of OECTs also provides information about a wide range of other parameters including the conductance, transconductance, conductivity and volumetric capacitance through a single measurement.