Assay dependence of long-term kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Since the worldwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the question raised whether infected patients would elicit long-lasting protective immunity. Several companies developed serological assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. In this study, we compared 4 different serology assays in convalescents up to 7 months post-infection.

Micro-scale interactions between Arabidopsis root hairs and soil particles influence soil erosion.

Soil is essential for sustaining life on land. Plant roots play a crucial role in stabilising soil and minimising erosion, although these mechanisms are still not completely understood. Consequently, identifying and breeding for plant traits to enhance erosion resistance is challenging.

Assessment of silt from sand and gravel processing as a suitable sub-soil material in land restoration: A glasshouse study.

Annually, sand and gravel processing generates approximately 20 million tonnes of non-commercial by-product as fine silt particles (<63 μm) which constitutes approximately 20% of quarry production in the UK. This study is significant as it investigated the use of quarry silt as a sub-soil medium to partially substitute soil-forming materials whilst facilitating successful post-restoration crop establishment. In a glasshouse pot experiment, top-soil and sub-soil layering was simulated, generating an artificial sub-soil medium by mixing two quarry non-commercial by-products, i.

Future C loss in mid-latitude mineral soils: climate change exceeds land use mitigation potential in France.

Many studies have highlighted significant interactions between soil C reservoir dynamics and global climate and environmental change. However, in order to estimate the future soil organic carbon sequestration potential and related ecosystem services well, more spatially detailed predictions are needed. The present study made detailed predictions of future spatial evolution (at 250 m resolution) of topsoil SOC driven by climate change and land use change for France up to the year 2100 by taking interactions between climate, land use and soil type into account.

A GFP expressing influenza A virus to report in vivo tropism and protection by a matrix protein 2 ectodomain-specific monoclonal antibody.

The severity of influenza-related illness is mediated by many factors, including in vivo cell tropism, timing and magnitude of the immune response, and presence of pre-existing immunity. A direct way to study cell tropism and virus spread in vivo is with an influenza virus expressing a reporter gene. However, reporter gene-expressing influenza viruses are often attenuated in vivo and may be genetically unstable.

Protection and mechanism of action of a novel human respiratory syncytial virus vaccine candidate based on the extracellular domain of small hydrophobic protein.

Infections with human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) occur globally in all age groups and can have devastating consequences in young infants. We demonstrate that a vaccine based on the extracellular domain (SHe) of the small hydrophobic (SH) protein of HRSV, reduced viral replication in challenged laboratory mice and in cotton rats. We show that this suppression of viral replication can be transferred by serum and depends on a functional IgG receptor compartment with a major contribution of FcγRI and FcγRIII.

CD8+ T cell immunity against human respiratory syncytial virus.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) was first discovered in the 1950s, but despite decades of research, a licensed vaccine against it is not available. Epidemiological studies indicate that antibodies directed against the fusion protein (F) partially correlate with protection. In addition, an F-specific monoclonal antibody is licensed as a prophylactic treatment in children who are at high risk of developing complications following HRSV infection.

Single-domain antibodies targeting neuraminidase protect against an H5N1 influenza virus challenge.

Unlabelled: Influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) is an interesting target of small-molecule antiviral drugs. We isolated a set of H5N1 NA-specific single-domain antibodies (N1-VHHm) and evaluated their in vitro and in vivo antiviral potential. Two of them inhibited the NA activity and in vitro replication of clade 1 and 2 H5N1 viruses.

Hepatitis B core-based virus-like particles to present heterologous epitopes.

Since the first effort to recombinantly express the hepatitis B core protein (HBc) in bacteria, the remarkable virion-like structure has fuelled interest in unraveling the structural and antigenic properties of this protein. Initial studies proved HBc virus-like particles to possess strong immunogenic properties, which can be conveyed to linked antigens. More than 35 years later, numerous studies have been performed using HBc as a carrier protein for antigens derived from over a dozen different pathogens and diseases.

Recombinant influenza virus carrying the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F85-93 CTL epitope reduces RSV replication in mice.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants worldwide. Despite decades of research, there is still no registered vaccine available for this major pathogen. We investigated the protective efficacy of a recombinant influenza virus, PR8/NA-F(85-93), that carries the RSV CD8(+) T cell epitope F(85-93) in its neuraminidase stalk.

Nanobodies® specific for respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein protect against infection by inhibition of fusion.

Despite the medical importance of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, there is no vaccine or therapeutic agent available. Prophylactic administration of palivizumab, a humanized monoclonal RSV fusion (F) protein-specific antibody, can protect high-risk children. Previously, we have demonstrated that RSV can be neutralized by picomolar concentrations of a camelid immunoglobulin single-variable domain that binds the RSV protein F (F-VHHb nanobodies).