Publications by authors named "Martin Runnstrom"

Background: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a disease resulting from an overactive type 2 response to . Initial studies suggest that asthma biologics can effectively treat ABPA, but it is unclear which biologic class is superior.

Objective: We sought to compare the effectiveness of asthma biologics in the treatment of ABPA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mRNA vaccination has reduced effectiveness in certain immunocompromised individuals. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying these defects, as well as the contribution of disease-induced cellular abnormalities, remain largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive serological and cellular analysis of patients with autoimmune systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who received the Wuhan-Hu-1 monovalent mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA vaccines are effective at protecting from severe disease, but the protective antibodies wane rapidly even though SARS-CoV-2-specific plasma cells can be found in the bone marrow (BM). Here, to explore this paradox, we enrolled 19 healthy adults at 2.5-33 months after receipt of a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine and measured influenza-, tetanus- or SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in long-lived plasma cell (LLPC) and non-LLPC subsets within the BM.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS2) infection (PASC) is a heterogeneous condition, but the main viral drivers are unknown. Here, we use MENSA, Media Enriched with Newly Synthesized Antibodies, secreted exclusively from circulating human plasmablasts, to provide an immune snapshot that defines the underlying viral triggers. We provide proof-of-concept testing that the MENSA technology can capture the new host immune response to accurately diagnose acute primary and breakthrough infections when known SARS2 virus or proteins are present.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Biologic therapies inhibiting the IL-4 or IL-5 pathways are very effective in the treatment of asthma and other related conditions. However, the cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 also play a role in the generation of adaptive immune responses. Although these biologics do not cause overt immunosuppression, their effect in primary severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunization has not been studied completely.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Novel mRNA vaccines have resulted in a reduced number of SARS-CoV-2 infections and hospitalizations. Yet, there is a paucity of studies regarding their effectiveness on immunocompromised autoimmune subjects. In this study, we enrolled subjects naïve to SARS-CoV-2 infections from two cohorts of healthy donors (HD, n=56) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n=69).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with highly inflammatory immune activation since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, these responses have been associated with the emergence of self-reactive antibodies with pathologic potential, although their origins and resolution have remained unclear. Previously, we and others have identified extrafollicular B cell activation, a pathway associated with the formation of new autoreactive antibodies in chronic autoimmunity, as a dominant feature of severe and critical COVID-19 (refs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Within 8 weeks of primary Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), as many as 30% of patients develop recurrent disease with the associated risks of multiple relapses, morbidity, and economic burden. There are no clear clinical correlates or validated biomarkers that can predict recurrence during primary infection. This study demonstrated the potential of a simple test for identifying hospitalized CDI patients at low risk for disease recurrence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation and airflow obstruction. Up to ten percent of asthmatics have severe asthma, and many remain uncontrolled despite optimal medical management. With our increased understanding of the heterogeneity of asthma and its complex pathophysiology, several biomarkers have been developed and in the recent past, several biologic therapies for severe asthma have been developed and are now in widespread use.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Rhabdomyolysis is characterised by muscle breakdown with release of damaging proteins that can have devastating consequences. Acute influenza infection is being increasingly recognised as an underlying aetiology. We report an unusual case of severe rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure due to influenza A infection that improved with high-dose oseltamivir and intravenous fluids.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We report a case of a hospitalised patient who developed probable serotonin toxicity shortly after the initiation of linezolid in whom the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) escitalopram had been recently discontinued. On day 2 of linezolid administration, the patient reported severe anxiety and was observed to have full body jerking and twitching motions without mental status change. Notably, the patient was concomitantly receiving the antidepressant, trazodone and the benzodiazepine, clonazepam possibly affecting the severity and manifestations of serotonin toxicity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A 26 year old female presented for recurrent blood tinged sputum during the previous year with development of frank hemoptysis three days prior to admission. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) was confirmed with serial lavages. The patient had no history of autoimmune disease, vascular thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity including miscarriages or pre-eclampsia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF