mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination of lung transplant recipients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection induces durable SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies and T cells.

Lung transplant recipients (LTRs) are particularly at risk of developing severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), but are also difficult to protect by vaccination due to their immunocompromised state. Here, we investigated the immunogenicity of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines in LTRs who had a prior natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. At a median of 184 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection, LTRs were vaccinated twice with the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine, with a 28-day interval.

Temperature and water availability drive insect seasonality across a temperate and a tropical region.

The more insects there are, the more food there is for insectivores and the higher the likelihood for insect-associated ecosystem services. Yet, we lack insights into the drivers of insect biomass over space and seasons, for both tropical and temperate zones. We used 245 Malaise traps, managed by 191 volunteers and park guards, to characterize year-round flying insect biomass in a temperate (Sweden) and a tropical (Madagascar) country.

Virus neutralization assays for human respiratory syncytial virus using airway organoids.

Neutralizing antibodies are considered a correlate of protection against severe human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) disease. Currently, HRSV neutralization assays are performed on immortalized cell lines like Vero or A549 cells. It is known that assays on these cell lines exclusively detect neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) directed to the fusion (F) protein.

Local climate, air quality and leaf litter cover shape foliar fungal communities on an urban tree.

Foliar fungi on urban trees are important for tree health, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Yet, we lack insights into how urbanization influences foliar fungal communities. We created detailed maps of Stockholm region's climate and air quality and characterized foliar fungi from mature oaks (Quercus robur) across climatic, air quality and local habitat gradients.

SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses converge in kidney disease patients and controls with hybrid immunity.

Healthy individuals with hybrid immunity, due to a SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to first vaccination, have stronger immune responses compared to those who were exclusively vaccinated. However, little is known about the characteristics of antibody, B- and T-cell responses in kidney disease patients with hybrid immunity. Here, we explored differences between kidney disease patients and controls with hybrid immunity after asymptomatic or mild coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

The effect of local habitat and spatial connectivity on urban seed predation.

Premise: During the last centuries, the area covered by urban landscapes is increasing all over the world. Urbanization can change local habitats and decrease connectivity among these habitats, with important consequences for species interactions. While several studies have found a major imprint of urbanization on plant-insect interactions, the effects of urbanization on seed predation remain largely unexplored.

Micro-diffusely abnormal white matter: An early multiple sclerosis lesion phase with intensified myelin blistering.

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic central nervous system disease whose white matter lesion origin remains debated. Recently, we reported subtle changes in the MS normal appearing white matter (NAWM), presenting with an increase in myelin blisters and myelin protein citrullination, which may recapitulate some of the prodromal degenerative processes involved in MS pathogenesis. Here, to clarify the relevance of these changes for subsequent MS myelin degeneration we explored their prevalence in WM regions characterized by subtly reduced myelination (dubbed as micro-diffusely abnormal white matter, mDAWM).

Immunogenicity of bivalent omicron (BA.1) booster vaccination after different priming regimens in health-care workers in the Netherlands (SWITCH ON): results from the direct boost group of an open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Bivalent mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines encoding the ancestral and omicron spike (S) protein were developed as a countermeasure against antigenically distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants. We aimed to assess the (variant-specific) immunogenicity and reactogenicity of mRNA-based bivalent omicron (BA.1) vaccines in individuals who were primed with adenovirus-based or mRNA-based vaccines encoding the ancestral spike protein.

Urinary volatile organic compounds for colorectal cancer screening: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The faecal immunochemical test (FIT) suffers from suboptimal performance and participation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may be a useful alternative. We aimed to determine the diagnostic potential of urinary VOCs for CRC/adenomas.

Ad26.COV2.S priming provided a solid immunological base for mRNA-based COVID-19 booster vaccination.

The emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants led to the recommendation of booster vaccinations after Ad26.COV2.S priming.

Single, but not dual, attack by a biotrophic pathogen and a sap-sucking insect affects the oak leaf metabolome.

Plants interact with a multitude of microorganisms and insects, both below- and above ground, which might influence plant metabolism. Despite this, we lack knowledge of the impact of natural soil communities and multiple aboveground attackers on the metabolic responses of plants, and whether plant metabolic responses to single attack can predict responses to dual attack. We used untargeted metabolic fingerprinting (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, GC-MS) on leaves of the pedunculate oak, , to assess the metabolic response to different soil microbiomes and aboveground single and dual attack by oak powdery mildew () and the common oak aphid ().

Divergent SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-reactive T and B cell responses in COVID-19 vaccine recipients.

The severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant is spreading rapidly, even in vaccinated individuals, raising concerns about immune escape. Here, we studied neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses targeting SARS-CoV-2 D614G [wild type (WT)] and the Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants of concern in a cohort of 60 health care workers after immunization with ChAdOx-1 S, Ad26.COV2.

The relationship between pathogen life-history traits and metapopulation dynamics.

Plant pathogen traits, such as transmission mode and overwintering strategy, may have important effects on dispersal and persistence, and drive disease dynamics. Still, we lack insights into how life-history traits influence spatiotemporal disease dynamics. We adopted a multifaceted approach, combining experimental assays, theory and field surveys, to investigate whether information about two pathogen life-history traits - infectivity and overwintering strategy - can predict pathogen metapopulation dynamics in natural systems.

Pathogen infection influences the relationship between spring and autumn phenology at the seedling and leaf level.

Seasonal life history events are often interdependent, but we know relatively little about how the relationship between different events is influenced by the abiotic and biotic environment. Such knowledge is important for predicting the immediate and evolutionary phenological response of populations to changing conditions. We manipulated germination timing and shade in a multi-factorial experiment to investigate the relationship between spring and autumn phenology in seedlings of the pedunculate oak, Quercus robur, and whether this relationship was mediated by natural colonization of leaves by specialist fungal pathogens (i.

Modelling of Respiratory Virus Infections in Human Airway Epithelial Cells - A Systematic Review.

Respiratory tract infections (RTI) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. A large number of RTIs is caused by viruses, often resulting in more severe disease in infants, elderly and the immunocompromised. Upon viral infection, most individuals experience common cold-like symptoms associated with an upper RTI.

External validation of two prediction tools for patients at risk for recurrent infection.

Background: One in four patients with primary infection (CDI) develops recurrent CDI (rCDI). With every recurrence, the chance of a subsequent CDI episode increases. Early identification of patients at risk for rCDI might help doctors to guide treatment.

The timing and asymmetry of plant-pathogen-insect interactions.

Insects and pathogens frequently exploit the same host plant and can potentially impact each other's performance. However, studies on plant-pathogen-insect interactions have mainly focused on a fixed temporal setting or on a single interaction partner. In this study, we assessed the impact of time of attacker arrival on the outcome and symmetry of interactions between aphids (), powdery mildew (), and caterpillars () feeding on pedunculate oak, , and explored how single versus multiple attackers affect oak performance.

Experience-dependent mushroom body plasticity in butterflies: consequences of search complexity and host range.

An ovipositing insect experiences many sensory challenges during her search for a suitable host plant. These sensory challenges become exceedingly pronounced when host range increases, as larger varieties of sensory inputs have to be perceived and processed in the brain. Neural capacities can be exceeded upon information overload, inflicting costs on oviposition accuracy.

Epidermal growth factor receptor imaging in human head and neck cancer xenografts.

Molecular imaging of specific biomarkers can have prognostic, predictive or monitoring value in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in various radiation resistance mechanisms as it steers the pathways related to DNA damage repair, proliferation, hypoxia and apoptosis. Radiolabeled labeled F(ab')2 fragments of the EGFR antibody cetuximab can be applied for non-invasive imaging of this receptor.

PET of EGFR with (64) Cu-cetuximab-F(ab')2 in mice with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma xenografts.

Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is linked to an adverse outcome in various solid tumors. Cetuximab is an EGFR inhibitor, which in combination with radiotherapy improves locoregional control and survival in a subgroup of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). The aim of this study was to develop and characterize an EGFR-directed PET tracer, (64) Cu-cetuximab-F(ab')2, to determine the systemic accessibility of EGFR.

PET Imaging in Head and Neck Cancer Patients to Monitor Treatment Response: A Future Role for EGFR-Targeted Imaging.

Approximately 50,000 new cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are diagnosed worldwide each year and subsequently treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or targeted therapy. The heterogeneity of the patient population in terms of treatment response drives the search for tumor-specific biomarkers. Imaging of biomarkers can reveal patient-specific responses to therapies and, if assessed early after the start of treatment, may allow adaptation of treatment regimens.

111In-cetuximab-F(ab')2 SPECT and 18F-FDG PET for prediction and response monitoring of combined-modality treatment of human head and neck carcinomas in a mouse model.

Unlabelled: Treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas with radiotherapy and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor cetuximab shows an improved response in a subgroup of patients. The aim of this study was to noninvasively monitor treatment response by visualizing systemically accessible EGFR with (111)In-cetuximab-F(ab')2 while simultaneously evaluating tumor metabolism with (18)F-FDG PET during combined-modality treatment.

Methods: Eighty mice with patient-derived head and neck squamous cell carcinomas xenografts, SCCNij202 or SCCNij185, were imaged with SPECT/CT using (111)In-cetuximab-F(ab')2 (5 μg, 28 ± 6.

Early response monitoring with 18F-FDG PET and cetuximab-F(ab')2-SPECT after radiotherapy of human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in a mouse model.

Unlabelled: Only a subset of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) benefit from radiotherapy and concurrent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor therapy with cetuximab, indicating the need for patient selection. The aim of this study was to visualize the change in systemically accessible EGFR with (111)In-cetuximab-F(ab')2 SPECT before and after radiotherapy, while simultaneously evaluating (18)F-FDG PET uptake.

Methods: Mice with HNSCC xenografts, cetuximab-sensitive SCCNij202 and cetuximab-resistant SCCNij167, were imaged with SPECT/CT using (111)In-cetuximab-F(ab')2 as a tracer, directly followed by PET imaging with (18)F-FDG.