Performance of T-Track SARS-CoV-2, an Innovative Dual Marker RT-qPCR-Based Whole-Blood Assay for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2-Reactive T Cells.

T-cell immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) plays a central role in the control of the virus. In this study, we evaluated the performance of T-Track SARS-CoV-2, a novel CE-marked quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay, which relies on the combined evaluation of and mRNA levels in response to the S1 and NP SARS-CoV-2 antigens, in 335 participants with or without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, respectively. Of the 62 convalescent donors, 100% responded to S1 and 88.

Stimulatory Effect of CMV Immunoglobulin on Innate Immunity and on the Immunogenicity of CMV Antigens.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin (CMVIG) is used for the prophylaxis of CMV infection after transplantation. Beyond providing passive CMV-specific immunity, CMVIG exerts enhancing and suppressive immunomodulatory functions. Although the anti-inflammatory activities of CMVIG have been extensively documented, its immunostimulatory activities remain poorly characterized.

Comparison of Cytomegalovirus-Specific Immune Cell Response to Proteins versus Peptides Using an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Measuring CMV-specific cellular immunity may improve the risk stratification and management of patients. IFN-γ ELISpot assays, based on the stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with CMV pp65 and IE-1 proteins or peptides, have been validated in clinical settings.

Perinatal Gram-Positive Bacteria Exposure Elicits Distinct Cytokine Responses In Vitro.

During pregnancy, infections caused by the gram-positive bacteria (), (), and () are major reasons for preterm labor, neonatal prematurity, meningitis, or sepsis. Here, we propose cytokine responses to bacterial infections by the immature perinatal immune system as central players in the pathogenesis of preterm birth and neonatal sepsis. We aimed to close the gap in knowledge about such cytokine responses by stimulating freshly isolated umbilical blood mononuclear cells (UBMC) with lysates of , , and collected from pregnant women in preterm labor.