Evaluation of self-collected dried blood spots for detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies shows low sensitivity.

Background And Aims: Dried blood spots (DBS) have been proposed as a cost-effective surveillance method for population-wide screening of SARS-CoV-2 immunity but sensitivity of DBS based on self-collected DBS samples is unknown. To evaluate the success of vaccination strategies, it is necessary to differentiate vaccination from natural infection. Therefore, a test for antibodies against the viral nucleocapsid protein (anti-N) is desirable.

Efficacy and Safety of Dolutegravir Plus Emtricitabine vs Combined Antiretroviral Therapy for the Maintenance of HIV Suppression: Results Through Week 144 of the SIMPL'HIV Trial.

The SIMPL'HIV study investigated whether switching to dolutegravir (DTG) + emtricitabine (FTC) was noninferior to continuing combined antiretroviral therapy for maintaining HIV-1 suppression at 144 weeks. The study demonstrated that viral suppression, CD4 gains, adverse events, quality of life, and patient satisfaction were comparable between groups, confirming DTG + FTC's safety and efficacy for long-term management of HIV-1 infection.

SARS-CoV-2 immunity and reasons for non-vaccination among healthcare workers from eastern and northern Switzerland: results from a nested multicentre cross-sectional study.

Aims Of The Study: We aimed to assess the extent of SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity elicited by previous infections and/or vaccination among healthcare workers, and to identify reasons why healthcare workers decided against vaccination.

Methods: This nested cross-sectional study included volunteer healthcare workers from 14 healthcare institutions in German-speaking Switzerland. In January 2021, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were available for healthcare workers.

Hepatitis C prevalence and cascade of care among patients in the decentralised opioid agonist therapy programme of the canton of St Gallen, Switzerland: a cross-sectional study.

Background: To eliminate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030, 90% of those infected must be diagnosed and 80% treated. In Switzerland, >40% of the estimated 32,000 infected people are still undiagnosed. In the canton of St Gallen, HCV prevalence and cascade of care have only been studied in the centralised opioid agonist therapy (OAT) setting (institutions), although about 80% of OAT patients are treated decentrally (general practitioner [GP] or pharmacy).

Autoreactive T cells targeting type II pneumocyte antigens in COVID-19 convalescent patients.

Background: The role of autoreactive T cells on the course of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) remains elusive. Type II pneumocytes represent the main target cells of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Autoimmune responses against antigens highly expressed in type II pneumocytes may influence the severity of COVID-19 disease.

Clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection during the Omicron period in relation to baseline immune status and booster vaccination-A prospective multicentre cohort of health professionals (SURPRISE study).

The effects of different types of pre-existing immunity on the frequency of clinical symptoms caused by the SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection were prospectively assessed in healthcare workers during the Omicron period. Among 518 participants, hybrid immunity was associated with symptom reduction for dizziness, muscle or limb pain and headache as compared to vaccination only. Moreover, the frequencies of dizziness, cough and muscle or limb pain were lower in participants who had received a booster vaccine dose.

Chronic hepatitis C virus infections in Switzerland in 2020: Lower than expected and suggesting achievement of WHO elimination targets.

In this multi-method study, we investigated the prevalence of chronic infections with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Switzerland in 2020, and assessed Switzerland's progress in eliminating HCV as a public health problem by 2030 with regard to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria targeting infections acquired during the preceding year ('new transmissions') and HCV-associated mortality. Based on a systematic literature review, the reappraisal of a 2015 prevalence analysis assuming 0.5% prevalence among the Swiss population and data from many additional sources, we estimated the prevalence among subpopulations at increased risk and the general population.

Novel Echinacea formulations for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections in adults-A randomized blinded controlled trial.

Background: has clinical antiviral activity against respiratory viruses and modulates immune functions. In this study, we compared higher doses of new formulations with conventional formulations at lower, preventive doses for therapy of respiratory tract infections (RTIs).

Methods: In this randomized, blinded, controlled trial, healthy adults ( = 409) were randomized between November 2018 and January 2019 to one of four formulations, which were taken in case of an RTI for up to 10 days.

Post-Acute Sequelae After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection by Viral Variant and Vaccination Status: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Disentangling the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and vaccination on the occurrence of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) is crucial to estimate and reduce the burden of PASC.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis (May/June 2022) within a prospective multicenter healthcare worker (HCW) cohort in north-eastern Switzerland. HCWs were stratified by viral variant and vaccination status at time of their first positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab.

The quorum sensing com system regulates pneumococcal colonisation and invasive disease in a pseudo-stratified airway tissue model.

Background: The effects of the com quorum sensing system during colonisation and invasion of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) are poorly understood.

Methods: We developed an ex vivo model of differentiated human airway epithelial (HAE) cells with beating ciliae, mucus production and tight junctions to study Spn colonisation and translocation. HAE cells were inoculated with Spn wild-type TIGR4 (wtSpn) or its isogenic ΔcomC quorum sensing-deficient mutant.

Pulmonary Surfactant Proteins Are Inhibited by Immunoglobulin A Autoantibodies in Severe COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome with fatal outcomes. Evidence suggests that dysregulated immune responses, including autoimmunity, are key pathogenic factors. To assess whether IgA autoantibodies target lung-specific proteins and contribute to disease severity.

A Phylogeny-aware GWAS Framework to Correct for Heritable Pathogen Effects on Infectious Disease Traits.

Infectious diseases are particularly challenging for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) because genetic effects from two organisms (pathogen and host) can influence a trait. Traditional GWAS assume individual samples are independent observations. However, pathogen effects on a trait can be heritable from donor to recipient in transmission chains.

A Systematic Molecular Epidemiology Screen Reveals Numerous Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1 Superinfections in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Background: Studying human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) superinfection is important to understand virus transmission, disease progression, and vaccine design. But detection remains challenging, with low sampling frequencies and insufficient longitudinal samples.

Methods: Using the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS), we developed a molecular epidemiology screening for superinfections.

Safety Evaluation of a Medical Congress Held During the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Prospective Cohort.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, few scientific congresses have been held on-site. We prospectively evaluated the safety concept of the congress of the Swiss Societies of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene. The congress was held in Geneva (Switzerland) while local COVID-19 incidence (with SARS-CoV-2 wild type circulating) was 65/100,000 population (September 2020).

Impact of respirator versus surgical masks on SARS-CoV-2 acquisition in healthcare workers: a prospective multicentre cohort.

Background: There is insufficient evidence regarding the role of respirators in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We analysed the impact of filtering facepiece class 2 (FFP2) versus surgical masks on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 acquisition among Swiss healthcare workers (HCW).

Methods: Our prospective multicentre cohort enrolled HCW from June to August 2020.

Symptoms Compatible With Long Coronavirus Disease (COVID) in Healthcare Workers With and Without Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection-Results of a Prospective Multicenter Cohort.

Background: The burden of long-term symptoms (ie, long COVID) in patients after mild COVID-19 is debated. Within a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs), frequency and risk factors for symptoms compatible with long COVID are assessed.

Methods: Participants answered baseline (August/September 2020) and weekly questionnaires on SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) results and acute disease symptoms.

The Gut Microbiome in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a neglected, debilitating multi-systemic disease without diagnostic marker or therapy. Despite evidence for neurological, immunological, infectious, muscular and endocrine pathophysiological abnormalities, the etiology and a clear pathophysiology remains unclear. The gut microbiome gained much attention in the last decade with manifold implications in health and disease.

No neutralizing effect of pre-existing tick-borne encephalitis virus antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2: a prospective healthcare worker study.

Certain immunizations including vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) have been suggested to confer cross-protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Within a prospective healthcare worker (HCW) cohort, we assessed the potentially protective role of anti-TBEV antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among 3352 HCW, those with ≥ 1 previous TBEV vaccination (n = 2018, 60%) showed a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion (adjusted odds ratio: 0.

Digital SARS-CoV-2 Detection Among Hospital Employees: Participatory Surveillance Study.

Background: The implementation of novel techniques as a complement to traditional disease surveillance systems represents an additional opportunity for rapid analysis.

Objective: The objective of this work is to describe a web-based participatory surveillance strategy among health care workers (HCWs) in two Swiss hospitals during the first wave of COVID-19.

Methods: A prospective cohort of HCWs was recruited in March 2020 at the Cantonal Hospital of St.

Impact of baseline SARS-CoV-2 antibody status on syndromic surveillance and the risk of subsequent COVID-19-a prospective multicenter cohort study.

Background: In a prospective healthcare worker (HCW) cohort, we assessed the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection according to baseline serostatus.

Methods: Baseline serologies were performed among HCW from 23 Swiss healthcare institutions between June and September 2020, before the second COVID-19 wave. Participants answered weekly electronic questionnaires covering information about nasopharyngeal swabs (PCR/rapid antigen tests) and symptoms compatible with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Identifying and Characterizing Trans Women in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study as an Epidemiologically Distinct Risk Group.

Background: As trans women are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic, and are still understudied, we aimed to identify and characterize the trans women in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS).

Methods: A combination of criteria from pre-existing cohort data was used to identify trans women. Information on socioeconomic factors, clinical data, risk behaviors, and mental health was collected.