scholarly journals Validation and clinical evaluation of a SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test (sVNT)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Meyer ◽  
Johan Reimerink ◽  
Giulia Torriani ◽  
Fion Brouwer ◽  
Gert-Jan Godeke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Neutralization Test ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Analytical Sensitivity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Clinical Sensitivity ◽  
Neutralization Capacity ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Independent Evaluation

To understand SARS-CoV-2 immunity after natural infection or vaccination, functional assays such as virus neutralizing assays are needed. So far, assays to determine SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies rely on cell-culture based infection assays either using wild type SARS-CoV-2 or pseudotyped viruses. Such assays are labour-intensive, require appropriate biosafety facilities and are difficult to standardize. Recently, a new surrogate virus neutralisation assay (sVNT) was described that uses the principle of an ELISA to measure the neutralization capacity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies directed against the receptor binding domain. Here, we performed an independent evaluation of the robustness, specificity and sensitivity on an extensive panel of sera from 269 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases and 259 unmatched samples collected before 2020 and compared it to cell-based neutralization assays. We found a high specificity of 99.2 (95%CI: 96.9-99.9) and overall sensitivity of 80.3 (95%CI: 74.9-84.8) for the sVNT. Clinical sensitivity increased between early (<14 days post symptom onset or post diagnosis, dpos/dpd) and late sera (>14 dpos/dpd) from 75.0 (64.7-83.2) to 83.1 (76.5-88.1). Also, higher severity was associated with an increase in clinical sensitivity. Upon comparison with cell-based neutralisation assays we determined an analytical sensitivity of 74.3 (56.4-86.9) and 98.2 (89.4-99.9) for titres ≥10 to <40 and ≥40 to <160, respectively. Only samples with a titre ≥160 were always positive in the sVNT. In conclusion, the sVNT can be used as an additional assay to determine the immune status of COVID-19 infected of vaccinated individuals but its value needs to be assessed for the specific context of use.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody and neutralization assays reveal the wide range of the humoral immune response to virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikail Dogan ◽  
Lina Kozhaya ◽  
Lindsey Placek ◽  
Courtney Gunter ◽  
Mesut Yigit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Specific Antibody ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Specific Igg ◽  
Negative Controls

AbstractDevelopment of antibody protection during SARS-CoV-2 infection is a pressing question for public health and for vaccine development. We developed highly sensitive SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and neutralization assays. SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein or Nucleocapsid protein specific IgG antibodies at titers more than 1:100,000 were detectable in all PCR+ subjects (n = 115) and were absent in the negative controls. Other isotype antibodies (IgA, IgG1-4) were also detected. SARS-CoV-2 neutralization was determined in COVID-19 and convalescent plasma at up to 10,000-fold dilution, using Spike protein pseudotyped lentiviruses, which were also blocked by neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Hospitalized patients had up to 3000-fold higher antibody and neutralization titers compared to outpatients or convalescent plasma donors. Interestingly, some COVID-19 patients also possessed NAbs against SARS-CoV Spike protein pseudovirus. Together these results demonstrate the high specificity and sensitivity of our assays, which may impact understanding the quality or duration of the antibody response during COVID-19 and in determining the effectiveness of potential vaccines.

Development of Dual Fluorescent Microsphere Immunological Assay for Detection of Pseudorabies Virus gE and gB IgG Antibodies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
chihai ji ◽  
Jingyu Wang ◽  
Yuchen Zeng ◽  
Haoming Pan ◽  
Yingfang Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudorabies Virus ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Antibody Detection ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Swine Industry ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Fluorescent Microsphere ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity

Abstract Background Pseudorabies, also known as Aujezsky’s disease, is an acute viral infection caused by pseudorabies virus (PRV). Swine are one of the natural hosts of pseudorabies, therefore, the disease brings huge economic losses to the swine industry. Establishment of a differential diagnosis technique that can distinguish between wild-type infected and vaccinated pigs, and monitor vaccine-induced IgG is crucial for eventual eradication of pseudorabies.Results The aim of this study was to develop a rapid dual detection method for PRV gE and gB protein IgG antibodies with high specificity and sensitivity. PRV gE codons at amino acid residues (aa) 52–238 and gB codons at aa 539–741 were expressed to obtain recombinant PRV gE and gB proteins by pMAL-c5x vector. After purification with Qiagen Ni–NTA agarose affinity, the two proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting assay. Two single fluorescent-microsphere immunoassays (FMIA) were established by coupling two recombinant proteins (gE and gB) with two magnetic microbeads and an effective dual FMIA was developed by integrating the two single assays. Optimal serum dilution for each assay, correlation with other common swine virus-positive sera and comparison with ELISA for two PRV antigens were tested for validation. Compared with ELISA, the specificity and sensitivity were 99.26% and 92.3% for gE IgG antibody detection and 95.74% and 96.3% for gB IgG antibody detection by dual-FMIA.Conclusion We provide a new method for monitoring PRV protective antibody in vaccinated pigs and differentiating wild-type-PRV-infected from vaccinated pigs

scholarly journals A novel bacterial protease inhibitor adjuvant in RBD-based COVID-19 vaccine formulations increases neutralizing antibodies, specific germinal center B cells and confers protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorena M Coria ◽  
Lucas M Saposnik ◽  
Celeste Pueblas Castro ◽  
Eliana F Castro ◽  
Laura A Bruno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Protease Inhibitor ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Vaccine Formulation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Neutralization Capacity ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Recombinant Receptor ◽  
Bacterial Protease

In this work we evaluated recombinant receptor binding domain (RBD) based vaccine formulation prototypes with potential for further clinical development. We assessed different formulations containing RBD plus Alum, AddaS03, AddaVax or the combination of Alum and U-Omp19: a novel Brucella spp. protease inhibitor vaccine adjuvant. Results show that the vaccine formulation composed of U-Omp19 and Alum as adjuvants have a better performance: it significantly increased mucosal and systemic neutralizing antibodies in comparison to antigen plus Alum, AddaVax or AddaS03. Antibodies induced with the formulation containing U-Omp19 not only increased their neutralization capacity against the wild-type virus but also cross neutralized alpha, lambda and gamma variants with similar potency. Also, addition of U-Omp19 to vaccine formulation increased the frequency of RBD-specific geminal center B cells and plasmablasts. Additionally, U-Omp19+Alum formulation induced RBD-specific Th1 and CD8+ T cell responses in spleens and lungs. Finally, this vaccine formulation conferred protection against an intranasal SARS-CoV-2 challenge of K18-hACE2 mice.

scholarly journals Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, Anti-Ad5 Antibodies, and Reactogenicity in Response to Ad5-nCoV (CanSino Biologics) Vaccine in Individuals with and without Prior SARS-CoV-2

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1047
Author(s):  
Jorge Hernández-Bello ◽  
José Javier Morales-Núñez ◽  
Andrea Carolina Machado-Sulbarán ◽  
Saúl Alberto Díaz-Pérez ◽  
Paola Carolina Torres-Hernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Booster Dose ◽  
Neutralization Test ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Post Vaccination ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
History Of

This is the first study outside of clinical trials (phase I–III) evaluating the ability of the Ad5-nCoV vaccine to generate neutralizing antibodies and the factors associated with optimal or suboptimal response. In a longitudinal assay, 346 people (117 with prior COVID-19 and 229 without prior COVID-19) vaccinated with Ad5-nCoV were recruited. The percentage of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test) and antibodies against Ad5 (ADV-Ad5 IgG ELISA) were quantified pre and post-vaccination effects. The Ad5-nCoV vaccine induces higher neutralizing antibodies percentage in individuals with prior COVID-19 than those without prior COVID-19 (median [IQR]: 98% [97–98.1] vs. 72% [54–90], respectively; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a natural infection (before vaccination) induces more neutralizing antibodies percentage than immunized individuals without prior COVID-19 (p < 0.01). No patient had vaccine-severe adverse effects. The age, antidepressant, and immunosuppressive treatments, reactogenicity, and history of COVID-19 are associated with impaired antibody production. The anti-Ad5 antibodies increased after 21 days of post-vaccination in all groups (p < 0.01). We recommend the application of a booster dose of Ad5-nCoV, especially for those individuals without previous COVID-19 infection. Finally, the induction of anti-Ad5 antibodies after vaccination should be considered if a booster with the same vaccine is planned.

scholarly journals Antigenic domain 1 of human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B induces a multitude of different antibodies which, when combined, results in incomplete virus neutralization

1999 ◽  
Vol 80 (8) ◽  
pp. 2183-2191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Speckner ◽  
Diana Glykofrydes ◽  
Mats Ohlin ◽  
Michael Mach
Keyword(s):  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Antibody Binding ◽  
Virus Neutralization ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Glycoprotein B ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Neutralization Capacity

Glycoprotein B (gB, gpUL55) is the major antigen for the induction of neutralizing antibodies against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), making it an attractive molecule for active and passive immunoprophylaxis. The region between aa 552 and 635 of HCMV gB (termed AD-1) has been identified as the immunodominant target for the humoral immune response following natural infection. AD-1 represents a complex domain which requires a minimal continuous sequence of more than 70 aa for antibody binding. Neutralizing as well as non-neutralizing antibodies can bind to AD-1 in a competitive fashion. The fine specificity of AD-1-binding monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and affinity-purified human polyclonal antibodies was analysed by using recombinant proteins containing single amino acid substitutions spanning the entire AD-1 domain. Our results revealed that all MAbs had individual patterns of binding to the mutant proteins indicating the presence of a considerable number of distinct antibody-binding sites on AD-1. The neutralization capacity of antibodies could not be predicted from their binding pattern to AD-1 mutant proteins. Polyclonal human antibodies purified from different convalescent sera showed identical binding patterns to the mutant proteins suggesting that the combined antibody specificities present in human sera are comparable between individuals. Neutralization capacities of polyclonal human AD-1 antibodies did not exceed 50% indicating that, during natural infection, a considerable proportion of non-neutralizing antibodies are induced and thus might provide an effective mechanism to evade complete virus neutralization.

scholarly journals Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies Using a Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Possessing SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideki Tani ◽  
Long Tan ◽  
Miyuki Kimura ◽  
Yoshihiro Yoshida ◽  
Hiroshi Yamada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Infection ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Pseudotyped Virus ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Live Virus ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity

Abstract Background:SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that emerged in 2019 and is now classified in the genus Coronavirus with closely related SARS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2 is highly pathogenic in humans and is classified as a biosafety level (BSL)-3 pathogen, which makes manipulating it relatively difficult due to its infectious nature. Methods:To circumvent the need for BSL-3 laboratories, an alternative assay was developed that avoids live virus and instead uses a recombinant VSV expressing luciferase and possesses the full length or truncated spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, to measure SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies under BSL2 conditions, a chemiluminescence reduction neutralization test (CRNT) for SARS-CoV-2 was developed. The neutralization values of the serum samples collected from hospitalized patients with COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative donors against the pseudotyped virus infection evaluated by the CRNT were compared with antibody titers determined from an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Results:The CRNT, which used whole blood collected from hospitalized patients with COVID-19, was also examined. As a result, the inhibition of pseudotyped virus infection was specifically observed in both serum and whole blood and was also correlated with the results of the IFA. Conclusions:In conclusion, the CRNT for COVID-19 is a convenient assay system that can be performed in a BSL-2 laboratory with high specificity and sensitivity for evaluating the occurrence of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals The receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike is the key target of neutralizing antibody in human polyclonal sera

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara L. Steffen ◽  
E. Taylor Stone ◽  
Mariah Hassert ◽  
Elizabeth Geerling ◽  
Brian T. Grimberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibody Response ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Antigenic Determinants ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Neutralization Capacity

AbstractNatural infection of SARS-CoV-2 in humans leads to the development of a strong neutralizing antibody response, however the immunodominant targets of the polyclonal neutralizing antibody response are still unknown. Here, we functionally define the role SARS-CoV-2 spike plays as a target of the human neutralizing antibody response. In this study, we identify the spike protein subunits that contain antigenic determinants and examine the neutralization capacity of polyclonal sera from a cohort of patients that tested qRT-PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2. Using an ELISA format, we assessed binding of human sera to spike subunit 1 (S1), spike subunit 2 (S2) and the receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike. To functionally identify the key target of neutralizing antibody, we depleted sera of subunit-specific antibodies to determine the contribution of these individual subunits to the antigen-specific neutralizing antibody response. We show that epitopes within RBD are the target of a majority of the neutralizing antibodies in the human polyclonal antibody response. These data provide critical information for vaccine development and development of sensitive and specific serological testing.

scholarly journals HVEM signaling promotes protective antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) vaccine responses to herpes simplex viruses

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (50) ◽  
pp. eaax2454
Author(s):  
Clare Burn Aschner ◽  
Lip Nam Loh ◽  
Benjamin Galen ◽  
Isabel Delwel ◽  
Rohit K. Jangra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Immune Serum ◽  
Cellular Cytotoxicity ◽  
Antibody Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Herpes Simplex Viruses ◽  
Vectored Vaccine

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein D (gD) not only is required for virus entry and cell-to-cell spread but also binds the host immunomodulatory molecule, HVEM, blocking interactions with its ligands. Natural infection primarily elicits neutralizing antibodies targeting gD, but subunit protein vaccines designed to induce this response have failed clinically. In contrast, preclinical studies demonstrate that an HSV-2 single-cycle strain deleted in gD, ΔgD-2, induces primarily non-neutralizing antibodies that activate Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). These studies were designed to test the hypothesis that gD interferes with ADCC through engagement of HVEM. Immunization of Hvem−/− mice with ΔgD-2 resulted in significant reduction in HSV-specific IgG2 antibodies, the subclass associated with FcγR activation and ADCC, compared with wild-type controls. This translated into a parallel reduction in active and passive vaccine protection. A similar decrease in ADCC titers was observed in Hvem−/− mice vaccinated with an alternative HSV vaccine candidate (dl5-29) or an unrelated vesicular stomatitis virus–vectored vaccine. Unexpectedly, not only did passive transfer of immune serum from ΔgD-2–vaccinated Hvem−/− mice fail to protect wild-type mice but transfer of immune serum from ΔgD-2–vaccinated wild-type mice failed to protect Hvem−/− mice. Immune cells isolated from Hvem−/− mice were impaired in FcγR activation, and, conversely, addition of gD protein or anti-HVEM antibodies to in vitro murine or human FcγR activation assays inhibited the response. These findings uncover a previously unrecognized role for HVEM signaling in generating and mediating ADCC and an additional HSV immune evasion strategy.

scholarly journals Glycosylation and disulfide bonding of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shijian Zhang ◽  
Eden P. Go ◽  
Haitao Ding ◽  
Saumya Anang ◽  
John C. Kappes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disulfide Bond ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Virus Infectivity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Spike Glycoprotein ◽  
Sugar Addition

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the etiologic agent of COVID-19, uses its spike (S) glycoprotein anchored in the viral membrane to enter host cells. The S glycoprotein is the major target for neutralizing antibodies elicited by natural infection and by vaccines. Approximately 35% of the SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein consists of carbohydrate, which can influence virus infectivity and susceptibility to antibody inhibition. We found that virus-like particles produced by co-expression of SARS-CoV-2 S, M, E and N proteins contained spike glycoproteins that were extensively modified by complex carbohydrates. We used a fucose-selective lectin to purify the Golgi-modified fraction of a wild-type SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein trimer, and determined its glycosylation and disulfide bond profile. Compared with soluble or solubilized S glycoproteins modified to prevent proteolytic cleavage and to retain a prefusion conformation, more of the wild-type S glycoprotein N-linked glycans are processed to complex forms. Even Asn 234, a significant percentage of which is decorated by high-mannose glycans on other characterized S trimer preparations, is predominantly modified in the Golgi compartment by processed glycans. Three incompletely occupied sites of O-linked glycosylation were detected. Viruses pseudotyped with natural variants of the serine/threonine residues implicated in O-linked glycosylation were generally infectious and exhibited sensitivity to neutralization by soluble ACE2 and convalescent antisera comparable to that of the wild-type virus. Unlike other natural cysteine variants, a Cys15Phe (C15F) mutant retained partial, but unstable, infectivity. These findings enhance our understanding of the Golgi processing of the native SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein carbohydrates and could assist the design of interventions. IMPORTANCE The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, uses its spike glycoprotein to enter host cells. The viral spike glycoprotein is the main target of host neutralizing antibodies that help to control SARS-CoV-2 infection and are important for the protection provided by vaccines. The SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein consists of a trimer of two subunits covered with a coat of carbohydrates (sugars). Here, we describe the disulfide bonds that assist the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein to assume the correct shape, and the composition of the sugar moieties on the glycoprotein surface. We also evaluate the consequences of natural virus variation in O-linked sugar addition and in the cysteine residues involved in disulfide bond formation. This information can expedite the improvement of vaccines and therapies for COVID-19.

scholarly journals Development and validation of an enzyme immunoassay for detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 salivary IgA and IgG

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Costantini ◽  
Kenny Nguyen ◽  
Zoe Lyski ◽  
Shannon Novosad ◽  
Ana C Bardossy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Enzyme Immunoassay ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Antibody Isotype ◽  
Salivary Iga ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity

Oral fluids offer a non-invasive sampling method for the detection of antibodies. Quantification of IgA and IgG antibodies in saliva allows studies of the mucosal and systemic immune response after natural infection or vaccination. We developed and validated an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect and quantify salivary IgA and IgG antibodies against the prefusion-stabilized form of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Normalization against total antibody isotype was performed to account for specimen differences, such as collection time and sample volume. Saliva samples collected from 187 SARS-CoV-2 confirmed cases enrolled in 2 cohorts and 373 pre-pandemic saliva samples were tested. The sensitivity of both EIAs was high (IgA: 95.5%; IgG: 89.7%) without compromising specificity (IgA: 99%; IgG: 97%). No cross reactivity with seasonal coronaviruses was observed. The limit of detection for SARS-CoV-2 salivary IgA and IgG assays were 1.98 ng/mL and 0.30 ng/mL, respectively. Salivary IgA and IgG antibodies were detected earlier in patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms than in severe cases. However, severe cases showed higher salivary antibody titers than those with a mild infection. Salivary IgA titers quickly decreased after 6 weeks in mild cases but remained detectable until at least week 10 in severe cases. Salivary IgG titers remained high for all patients, regardless of disease severity. In conclusion, EIAs for both IgA and IgG had high specificity and sensitivity for the confirmation of current or recent SARS-CoV-2 infections and evaluation of the IgA and IgG immune response.

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