Transfusion-transmissible coinfections among US blood donors.

Background: Transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) prevalence among US blood donors has been widely documented. Here we estimate the prevalence of donors presenting with ≥2 TTIs (multiple infections past or present referred to as coinfections) and describe their demographics and associations.

Methods: Data from the Transfusion-Transmissible Infections Monitoring System were compiled for October 2020-September 2023 (3 years).

Robust Prediction of Relative Binding Energies for Protein-Protein Complex Mutations Using Free Energy Perturbation Calculations.

Computational free energy-based methods have the potential to significantly improve throughput and decrease costs of protein design efforts. Such methods must reach a high level of reliability, accuracy, and automation to be effectively deployed in practical industrial settings in a way that impacts protein design projects. Here, we present a benchmark study for the calculation of relative changes in protein-protein binding affinity for single point mutations across a variety of systems from the literature, using free energy perturbation (FEP+) calculations.

Absence of evidence of transfusion transmission risk of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the United States: Results froma 28-year lookback study.

Background: For many years, there has been concern about the risk of transmission of classic forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) by blood transfusion, particularly after the recognition of such transmission of variant CJD (vCJD). We report on a 28-year lookback study of recipients of blood from donors who subsequently developed CJD.

Methods: Patients with diagnosed CJD and a history of blood donation were identified.

A simeprevir-inducible molecular switch for the control of cell and gene therapies.

Chemical inducer of dimerization (CID) modules can be used effectively as molecular switches to control biological processes, and thus there is significant interest within the synthetic biology community in identifying novel CID systems. To date, CID modules have been used primarily in engineering cells for in vitro applications. To broaden their utility to the clinical setting, including the potential to control cell and gene therapies, the identification of novel CID modules should consider factors such as the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of the small molecule inducer, and the orthogonality and immunogenicity of the protein components.

Leveraging Donor Populations to Study the Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Transfusion-Transmitted and Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The tragedy of transfusion-associated hepatitis and HIV spurred a decades-long overhaul of the regulatory oversight and practice of blood transfusion. Consequent to improved donor selection, testing, process control, clinical transfusion practice and post-transfusion surveillance, transfusion in the United States and other high-income countries is now a very safe medical procedure. Nonetheless, pathogens continue to emerge and threaten the blood supply, highlighting the need for a proactive approach to blood transfusion safety.

Oxidised IL-33 drives COPD epithelial pathogenesis ST2-independent RAGE/EGFR signalling complex.

Background: Epithelial damage, repair and remodelling are critical features of chronic airway diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Interleukin (IL)-33 released from damaged airway epithelia causes inflammation its receptor, serum stimulation-2 (ST2). Oxidation of IL-33 to a non-ST2-binding form (IL-33) is thought to limit its activity.

Trajectory and Demographic Correlates of Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid in Recently Infected Blood Donors, United States.

We evaluated antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 in a large cohort of blood donors in the United States who were recently infected with the virus. Antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 indicate previous infection but are subject to waning, potentially affecting epidemiologic studies. We longitudinally evaluated a cohort of 19,323 blood donors who had evidence of recent infection by using a widely available serologic test to determine the dynamics of such waning.

Low risk of human T-lymphotropic virus infection in U.S. blood donors; Is it time to consider a one-time selective testing approach?

Background: U.S. blood donors are tested at each donation for human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) antibodies.

A Longitudinal Study of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibody Response in a Subset of United States Blood Donors.

Background: Blood donors were tested for antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); resulting antibody levels were monitored over time.

Methods: Donors reactive to anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S1-total antibodies) participated in a follow-up study of 18 months. Testing for nucleocapsid antibodies distinguished between vaccination and infection.

How do we forecast tomorrow's transfusion: Infectious safety?

Continuous improvement has led to a very high degree of microbial safety of transfusion. Four issues are likely to impact the future of this safety. There will be further advances in the efficacy and efficiency of donation testing and pathogen reduction, increasing safety and hopefully eliminating unnecessary procedures.

Genotype Distribution and Demographic Characteristics of Hepatitis C Virus Nucleic Acid Testing Yield Cases Among US Blood Donors.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rates among US blood donors have been well characterized; however, few studies evaluated HCV genotypes among blood donors. Monitoring trends in disease and demographic patterns contributes to understanding the safety of the blood supply. We examined the demographic characteristics and distribution of HCV genotypes/subgenotypes for nearly a 16-year period among blood donors confirmed positive for HCV RNA but antibody negative (defined as nucleic acid testing [NAT] yield).

Babesia blood testing: the first-year experience.

Background: Babesia is an intraerythrocytic parasite responsible for hundreds of cases of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis in the past 50 years. In May of 2020, blood testing for Babesia was implemented at the American Red Cross (ARC) for all donations in endemic areas of the northeastern and midwestern regions of the United States.

Methods: Between May 2020 and May 2021, 1,816,669 donations from 13 states and DC were tested for Babesia by the ARC.

Patterns of Antibody Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Among 1.6 Million Blood Donors: Impact of Vaccination, United States, December 2020-June 2021.

From December 2020 to June 2021, 1654487 blood donors were tested for antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) S1 protein, and 1028547 (62.17%) were reactive. A rapid increase in prevalence was due to vaccination.

Characteristics of US Blood Donors Testing Reactive for Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Prior to the Availability of Authorized Vaccines.

In the United States, many blood collection organizations initiated programs to test all blood donors for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, as a measure to increase donations and to assist in the identification of potential donors of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP). As a result, it was possible to investigate the characteristics of healthy blood donors who had previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2. We report the findings from all blood donations collected by the American Red Cross, representing 40% of the national blood supply covering 44 States, in order to characterize the seroepidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection among blood donors in the United States, prior to authorized vaccine availability.

Wild-type sTREM2 blocks Aβ aggregation and neurotoxicity, but the Alzheimer's R47H mutant increases Aβ aggregation.

TREM2 is a pattern recognition receptor, expressed on microglia and myeloid cells, detecting lipids and Aβ and inducing an innate immune response. Missense mutations (e.g.

HIV, HCV, and HBV incidence and residual risk in US blood donors before and after implementation of the 12-month deferral policy for men who have sex with men.

Background: In December 2015, the men who have sex with men (MSM) deferral was reduced to 12 months in the United States. We compared human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) incidence and residual risk before and after this policy change using data from >50% of the US blood supply.

Study Design And Methods: Three estimation intervals from the Transfusion-Transmissible Infections Monitoring System were compared: 15-months pre- and two consecutive, nonoverlapping 15-month post-MSM deferral implementation.

Change in Donor Characteristics and Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in Donated Blood in the US, June-August 2020.

This study describes changes in blood donor demographics and seroreactivity after testing of blood donations for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies began and was publicized in the US in mid-June 2020.

Use of a rapid electronic survey methodology to estimate blood donors' potential exposure to emerging infectious diseases: Application of a statistically representative sampling methodology to assess risk in US blood centers.

Unlabelled: Risk assessments of transfusion-transmitted emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are complicated by the fact that blood donors' demographics and behaviors can be different from the general population. Therefore, when assessing potential blood donor exposure to EIDs, the use of general population characteristics, such as U.S.