COVID-19 point-of-care tests can identify low-antibody individuals: In-depth immunoanalysis of boosting benefits in a healthy cohort.

The recommended COVID-19 booster vaccine uptake is low. At-home lateral flow assay (LFA) antigen tests are widely accepted for detecting infection during the pandemic. Here, we present the feasibility and potential benefits of using LFA-based antibody tests as a means for individuals to detect inadequate immunity and make informed decisions about COVID-19 booster immunization.

Ultrapotent antibodies against diverse and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) that are resistant to therapeutic antibodies highlights the need for continuing discovery of broadly reactive antibodies. We identified four receptor binding domain-targeting antibodies from three early-outbreak convalescent donors with potent neutralizing activity against 23 variants, including the B.1.

Antibodies with potent and broad neutralizing activity against antigenically diverse and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) that are resistant to therapeutic antibodies highlights the need for continuing discovery of broadly reactive antibodies. We identify four receptor-binding domain targeting antibodies from three early-outbreak convalescent donors with potent neutralizing activity against 12 variants including the B.1.

Antigen-Specific Adaptive Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in Acute COVID-19 and Associations with Age and Disease Severity.

Limited knowledge is available on the relationship between antigen-specific immune responses and COVID-19 disease severity. We completed a combined examination of all three branches of adaptive immunity at the level of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell and neutralizing antibody responses in acute and convalescent subjects. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells were each associated with milder disease.

Measuring the Inducible, Replication-Competent HIV Reservoir Using an Ultra-Sensitive p24 Readout, the Digital ELISA Viral Outgrowth Assay.

Quantifying the inducible HIV reservoir provides an estimate of the frequency of quiescent HIV-infected cells in humans as well as in animal models, and can help ascertain the efficacy of latency reversing agents (LRAs). The quantitative viral outgrowth assay (QVOA) is used to measure inducible, replication competent HIV and generate estimations of reservoir size. However, traditional QVOA is time and labor intensive and requires large amounts of lymphocytes.

The receptor binding domain of the viral spike protein is an immunodominant and highly specific target of antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 patients.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that first emerged in late 2019 is responsible for a pandemic of severe respiratory illness. People infected with this highly contagious virus can present with clinically inapparent, mild, or severe disease. Currently, the virus infection in individuals and at the population level is being monitored by PCR testing of symptomatic patients for the presence of viral RNA.

Determinants of the efficacy of HIV latency-reversing agents and implications for drug and treatment design.

HIV eradication studies have focused on developing latency-reversing agents (LRAs). However, it is not understood how the rate of latent reservoir reduction is affected by different steps in the process of latency reversal. Furthermore, as current LRAs are host-directed, LRA treatment is likely to be intermittent to avoid host toxicities.

Interval dosing with the HDAC inhibitor vorinostat effectively reverses HIV latency.

Background: The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor vorinostat (VOR) can increase HIV RNA expression in vivo within resting CD4+ T cells of aviremic HIV+ individuals. However, while studies of VOR or other HDAC inhibitors have reported reversal of latency, none has demonstrated clearance of latent infection. We sought to identify the optimal dosing of VOR for effective serial reversal of HIV latency.

Attitudes of North Carolina law enforcement officers toward syringe decriminalization.

Background: North Carolina, like much of the U.S. South, is disproportionately affected by HIV and hepatitis.

Particulate air pollution and susceptibility to the development of pulmonary tuberculosis disease in North Carolina: an ecological study.

Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), environmental factors may influence disease progression. Ecologic studies conducted in countries outside the USA with high levels of air pollution and PTB have suggested a link between active disease and ambient air pollution. The present investigation is the first to examine the ambient air pollution-PTB association in a country, where air pollution levels are comparatively lower.

Identifying gaps in HIV prevention services.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention programs and agencies are fighting growing rates of infection with decreasing resources. Identification of gaps in HIV prevention services can help inform prevention funding and program policies. To describe HIV prevention needs in a southern U.

Using state lead poisoning surveillance system data to assess false positive results of capillary testing.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the false positive percentage of capillary blood lead screening in a statewide surveillance system and to explore potential predictors of false positive results.

Methods: Data were all blood lead tests of 0-5 year old children in Maine during 2002-2003. We determined the proportion of children with elevated (>/=10 microg/dL) capillary test results who received a venous confirmatory test, and calculated the percentage of false positive tests, defined as a capillary test of >/=10 microg/dL with a confirmatory venous test of <10 microg/dL.

Are we there yet? Distance to care and relative supply among pediatric medical subspecialties.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe geographic proximity, quantify variation in supply, and estimate pediatric population increments that are needed to support providers across pediatric subspecialties.

Methods: Data from the American Board of Pediatrics and the Claritas Pop-Facts Database were used to calculate subspecialty-specific straight-line distances between each zip code and the nearest board-certified subspecialist. These data sources also were used to estimate the percentage of hospital referral regions with providers and calculate physician-to-population ratios for each of 16 pediatric medical subspecialties.