Publications by authors named "Mona Otte"

HLA-G, an important immune-checkpoint (IC) molecule that exerts inhibitory signalling on immune effector cells, has been suggested to represent a key player in regulating the immune response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the HLA-G 3'untranslated region (UTR), which arrange as haplotypes, are crucial for the regulation of HLA-G expression, we analysed the contribution of these genetic variants as host factors in SARS-CoV-2 infection during acute and post-acute phases. HLA-G gene polymorphisms in the 3'UTR were investigated by sequencing in an unvaccinated Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cohort during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (N = 505) and in the post-acute phase (N = 253).

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Unlabelled: A crucial step in lowering the risk of invasive pneumococcal illness in high-risk populations, such as individuals with plaque psoriasis, is pneumococcal vaccination. The serologic response to the sequential vaccination with Prevenar 13 (PCV13) and Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23) in psoriasis patients under immunosuppressive therapy is still poorly characterized despite national recommendations suggesting vaccination for immunocompromised patients. In this prospective study, we investigated the serological response in 57 patients under active systemic treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who underwent sequential vaccination with PCV13 followed by PPSV23.

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Article Synopsis
  • Breakthrough infections of COVID-19, especially with variants like Omicron-BA.5, are becoming more common in vaccinated people, and the immune response to these variants is not well understood.
  • Researchers analyzed the immune responses of hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the Delta and Omicron waves using methods like ELISA and neutralization assays to measure antibodies and cellular immunity.
  • The study found reduced neutralizing antibodies against Omicron variants, with Delta and Omicron-BA.1 infections enhancing immune responses in double-vaccinated patients, but no improvement was observed for those infected with Omicron-BA.5.
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Article Synopsis
  • * Using a specialized assay, researchers tested 2,496 human plasma samples and found that 5.1% contained high levels of these antibodies, which were not present in HSV-1 seronegative samples, showing the assay's specificity.
  • * The results indicate that individuals with these inhibiting antibodies experience significantly less frequent HSV reactivations, suggesting their potential use in immunoglobulin therapy and vaccine development against HSV-1.
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In kidney transplant (KTX) patients, immune responses after booster vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 are inadequately examined. We analyzed these patients a median of four months after a third/fourth vaccination and compared them to healthy controls. Cellular responses were analyzed by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) ELISpot assays.

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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The availability of effective and well-tolerated antiviral drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 patients is still very limited. Traditional herbal medicines elicit antiviral activity against various viruses and might therefore represent a promising option for the complementary treatment of COVID-19 patients.

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The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted from person to person by close contact, small aerosol respiratory droplets, and potentially via contact with contaminated surfaces. Herein, we investigated the effectiveness of commercial UVC-LED disinfection boxes in inactivating SARS-CoV-2-contaminated surfaces of personal items. We contaminated glass, metal, and plastic samples representing the surfaces of personal items such as smartphones, coins, or credit cards with SARS-CoV-2 formulated in an organic matrix mimicking human respiratory secretions.

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