scholarly journals Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Among Rural Healthcare Workers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Z Neises ◽  
Hossain Md Saddam ◽  
Rifat Sultana ◽  
Kevin N Wanniarachchi ◽  
Jared W Wollman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Virus Neutralization ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Fluorescent Microsphere ◽  
Previous Diagnosis ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Microsphere Immunoassay

The objective of this longitudinal cohort study was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in healthcare workers employed at healthcare clinics in three rural counties in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota from May 13, 2020 through December 22, 2020. Three blood draws were performed at five clinical sites and tested for the presence of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies using a fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA), neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Spike-pseudotyped particles (SARS-CoV-2pp) assay, and serum virus neutralization (SVN) assay. The seroprevalence was determined to be 1/336 (0.29%) for samples collected from 5/13/20-7/13/20, 5/260 (1.92%) for samples collected from 8/13/20-9/25/20, and 35/235 (14.89%) for samples collected from 10/16/20-12/22/20. Eight of the 35 (22.8%) seropositive individuals identified in the final draw did not report a previous diagnosis with COVID-19. There was a high correlation (>90%) among the FMIA and virus neutralization assays. Each clinical site's seroprevalence was higher than the cumulative incidence for the general public in each respective county as reported by state public health agencies. As of December 2020, there was a high percentage (85%) of seronegative individuals in the study population.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Multiplexed Fluorescent Microsphere Immunoassay for Detection of Autoantibodies to Nuclear Antigens

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1054-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas B. Martins ◽  
Rufus Burlingame ◽  
Carlos A. von Mühlen ◽  
Troy D. Jaskowski ◽  
Christine M. Litwin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Vascular Diseases ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Specific Method ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Collagen Vascular Diseases ◽  
Fluorescent Microsphere ◽  
Nuclear Antigens ◽  
Multiplexed Fluorescent Microsphere Immunoassay ◽  
Microsphere Immunoassay

ABSTRACT Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) are found in a variety of collagen vascular diseases. Determining the individual specificities of these antibodies is extremely useful in establishing the disease diagnosis and in some cases the prognosis. With a multiplexed fluorescent microsphere immunoassay, reactivity to five of the most diagnostically useful ENA was measured in 249 serum samples, including samples from 56 patients previously documented to have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Results of the multiplexed assay were compared to results from established ENA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and the agreement, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively, for the five ENA evaluated were as follows: SSA, 99.1, 100.0, and 98.8%; SSB, 98.6, 88.9, and 99.5%; Sm, 97.6, 95.8, and 97.9%; RNP, 97.2, 92.7, and 98.8%; Scl-70, 93.6, 50.0, and 99.0%. In the 56 confirmed SLE patients, the frequency of significant concentrations of autoantibodies with the multiplexed assay was 21.4% for SSA, 7.1% for SSB, 10.7% for Sm, 32.1% for RNP, and 0% for Scl-70. The new flow cytometric bead-based multiplexed assay showed excellent correlation with the well-established single-analyte ELISA methods for four of five the ENA markers investigated in this study. The most notable discrepancies between the two assays were for the Scl-70 antigen, which was most often resolved in favor of the multiplexed assay. Our studies show that the multiplexed microsphere-based immunoassay is a sensitive and specific method for the detection and semiquantitation of ENA antibodies in human sera.

scholarly journals Anti-spike S1 IgA, anti-spike trimeric IgG, and anti-spike RBD IgG response after BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in healthcare workers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gian Luca Salvagno ◽  
Brandon Henry ◽  
Giovanni Di Piazza ◽  
Laura Pighi ◽  
Simone De Nitto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Vaccine Dose ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Serum Igg ◽  
Study Population

Background: Most studies on immune response after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination focused on serum IgG antibodies and cell-mediated immunity, discounting the role of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing IgA antibodies in preventing viral infection. This study was aimed to quantify serum IgG and IgA neutralizing antibodies after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in baseline SARS-CoV-2 seronegative healthcare workers. Methods: The study population consisted of 181 SARS-CoV-2 seronegative healthcare workers (median age 42 years, 59.7% women), receiving two doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2. Serum samples were collected before receiving the first vaccine dose, 21 days (before the second vaccine dose) and 50 days afterwards. We then measured anti-spike trimeric IgG (Liaison XL, DiaSorin), anti-spike receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG (Access 2, Beckman Coulter) and anti-spike S1 subunit IgA (ELISA, Euroimmun). Results were presented as median and interquartile range (IQR). Results: Vaccine administration elicited all anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies measured. Thirty days after the second vaccine dose, 100% positivization occurred for anti-spike trimeric IgG and anti-spike RBD IgG, whilst 1.7% subjects remained anti-spike S1 IgA negative. The overall increase of antibodies level over baseline after the second vaccine dose was 576.1 (IQR, 360.7-867.8) for anti-spike trimeric IgG, 1426.0 (IQR, 742.0-2698.6) for anti-spike RBD IgG, and 20.2 (IQR, 12.5-32.1) for anti-spike S1 IgA. Significant inverse association was found between age and overall increase of anti-spike trimeric IgG (r=-0.24; p=0.001) and anti-spike S1 IgA (r=-0.16; p=0.028), but not with anti-spike RBD IgG (r=-0.05; p=0.497). Conclusions: mRNA COVID-19 vaccination elicits sustained serum levels serum anti-spike trimeric IgG and anti-spike RBD IgG, while also modestly but significantly increasing those of serum anti-spike S1 IgA.

scholarly journals Development of a Fluorescent-Microsphere Immunoassay for Detection of Antibodies Specific to Equine Arteritis Virus and Comparison with the Virus Neutralization Test

2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Young Go ◽  
Susan J. Wong ◽  
Adam J. Branscum ◽  
Valerie L. Demarest ◽  
Kathleen M. Shuck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralization Test ◽  
Equine Arteritis Virus ◽  
Virus Neutralization Test ◽  
Cloning And Expression ◽  
Structural Proteins ◽  
Virus Neutralization ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Confirmatory Assay ◽  
Microsphere Immunoassay

ABSTRACT The development and validation of a microsphere immunoassay (MIA) to detect equine antibodies to the major structural proteins of equine arteritis virus (EAV) are described. The assay development process was based on the cloning and expression of genes for full-length individual major structural proteins (GP5 amino acids 1 to 255 [GP51-255], M1-162, and N1-110), as well as partial sequences of these structural proteins (GP51-116, GP575-112, GP555-98, M88-162, and N1-69) that constituted putative antigenic regions. Purified recombinant viral proteins expressed in Escherichia coli were covalently bound to fluorescent polystyrene microspheres and analyzed with the Luminex xMap 100 instrument. Of the eight recombinant proteins, the highest concordance with the virus neutralization test (VNT) results was obtained with the partial GP555-98 protein. The MIA was validated by testing a total of 2,500 equine serum samples previously characterized by the VNT. With the use of an optimal median fluorescence intensity cutoff value of 992, the sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 92.6% and 92.9%, respectively. The GP555-98 MIA and VNT outcomes correlated significantly (r = 0.84; P < 0.0001). Although the GP555-98 MIA is less sensitive than the standard VNT, it has the potential to provide a rapid, convenient, and more economical test for screening equine sera for the presence of antibodies to EAV, with the VNT then being used as a confirmatory assay.

scholarly journals Six-month decline of serum anti-spike S1 subunit IgA in SARS-CoV-2 in seronegative healthcare workers after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gian Luca Salvagno ◽  
Brandon M. Henry ◽  
Laura Pighi ◽  
Simone De Nitto ◽  
Giuseppe Lippi
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Peak Concentration ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Vaccine Dose ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Virus Neutralization ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Significant Inverse Correlation ◽  
Iga Antibodies

Abstract Background: Since serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) IgA antibodies correlate with secretory anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA and contribute to virus neutralization, we planned an observational study to measure serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgAs kinetics throughout a 6-month period in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine recipients.Methods: The study sample consisted of 97 baseline SARS-CoV-2 seronegative healthcare workers (median age 42 years and IQR 31-52 years; 52 females), who underwent vaccination with Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty mRNA-based vaccine (two 30 µg doses, 21 days apart). Serum samples were collected at baseline, before the second vaccine dose (i.e., day 21), and then 51, 111 and 201 days after enrolment (i.e., 1, 3 and 6 months after the second vaccine dose). Serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit IgA were measured with Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA IgA (Euroimmun, Lübeck, Germany).Results: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit IgA displayed a peak at 1 month after the second vaccine dose, but then progressively waned afterwards. The 6-month serum anti-spike S1 subunit IgA concentration was 71% lower than the peak concentration. The rate of subjects with positive IgA values was 0% at baseline, 80.4% at day 21, 97.9% at day 51, but then declined to 73.2% and 53.6% at 3 and 6 months after the second vaccine dose. Serum anti-spike S1 subunit IgAs measured at 111 and 201 days was significantly lower than at the 51-day peak (both p<0.001). Significant inverse correlation was found between anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA antibodies decline at 6 months/ and recipients’ age (r=-0.24; p=0.019).Conclusion: These findings may provide possible explanation to decreased efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection 6 months after vaccination.

scholarly journals Development of a Fluorescent Microsphere Immunoassay for Detection of Antibodies against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Using Oral Fluid Samples as an Alternative to Serum-Based Assays

2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Langenhorst ◽  
Steven Lawson ◽  
Apisit Kittawornrat ◽  
Jeffrey J. Zimmerman ◽  
Zhi Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibody Response ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Oral Fluid ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽  
Type I ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Microsphere ◽  
Microsphere Immunoassay

ABSTRACTFor effective disease surveillance, rapid and sensitive assays are needed to detect antibodies developed in response to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. In this study, we developed a multiplexed fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA) for detection of PRRSV-specific antibodies in oral fluid and serum samples. Recombinant nucleocapsid protein (N) and nonstructural protein 7 (nsp7) from both PRRSV genotypes (type I and type II) were used as antigens and covalently coupled to Luminex fluorescent microspheres. Based on an evaluation of 488 oral fluid samples with known serostatus, the oral fluid-based FMIAs achieved >92% sensitivity and 91% specificity. For serum samples (n= 1,639), the FMIAs reached >98% sensitivity and 95% specificity. The assay was further employed to investigate the kinetics of the antibody response in infected pigs. In oral fluid, the N protein was more sensitive for the detection of early infection (7 and 14 days postinfection), but nsp7 detected a higher level and longer duration of antibody response (28 days postinfection). In serum, the antibodies specific to nsp7 and N proteins were detected as early as 7 days postinfection, and the responses lasted more than 202 days. This study provides a framework from which a more robust assay could be developed to profile the immune response to multiple PRRSV antigens in a single test. The development of oral fluid-based diagnostic tests will change the way we survey diseases in swine herds and improve our ability to cheaply and efficiently track PRRSV infections in both populations and individual animals.

The Perils of Partnership

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan H. Marks
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Separation Of Powers ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Public Bodies

Collaboration with industry has become the paradigm in public health. Governments commonly develop close relationships with companies that are creating or exacerbating the very problems public health agencies are trying to solve. Nowhere is this more evident than in partnerships with food and soda companies to address obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. The author argues that public-private partnerships and multistakeholder initiatives create webs of influence that undermine the integrity of public health agencies; distort public health research and policy; and reinforce the framing of public health problems and their solutions in ways that are least threatening to the commercial interests of corporate “partners.” We should expect multinational corporations to develop strategies of influence. But public bodies need to develop counter-strategies to insulate themselves from corporate influence in all its forms. The author reviews the ways in which we regulate public-public interactions (separation of powers) and private-private interactions (antitrust and competition laws), and argues for an analogous set of norms to govern public-private interactions. The book also offers a novel framework that is designed to help public bodies identify the systemic ethical implications of their existing or proposed relationships with industry actors. The book makes a compelling case that, in public health, the paradigm public-private interaction should be at arm’s length: separation, not collaboration. The author calls for a new paradigm to protect and promote public health while avoiding the ethical perils of partnership with industry.

scholarly journals Investigations, actions and learning from an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in the United Kingdom

2020 ◽  
pp. 175717742097679
Author(s):  
Kordo Saeed ◽  
Emanuela Pelosi ◽  
Nitin Mahobia ◽  
Nicola White ◽  
Christopher Labdon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Current Infection ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
A Current

Background: We report an outbreak of SARS coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among healthcare workers (HCW) in an NHS elective healthcare facility. Methodology: A narrative chronological account of events after declaring an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs. As part of the investigations, HCWs were offered testing during the outbreak. These were: (1) screening by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) to detect a current infection; and (2) serum samples to determine seroprevalence. Results: Over 180 HCWs were tested by real-time RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The rate of infection was 15.2% (23.7% for clinical or directly patient-facing HCWs vs. 4.8% in non-clinical non-patient-facing HCWs). Of the infected HCWs, 57% were asymptomatic. Seroprevalence (SARS-CoV-2 IgG) among HCWs was 13%. It was challenging to establish an exact source for the outbreak. The importance of education, training, social distancing and infection prevention practices were emphasised. Additionally, avoidance of unnecessary transfer of patients and minimising cross-site working for staff and early escalation were highlighted. Establishing mass and regular screening for HCWs are also crucial to enabling the best care for patients while maintaining the wellbeing of staff. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first UK outbreak report among HCWs and we hope to have highlighted some key issues and learnings that can be considered by other NHS staff and HCWs globally when dealing with such a task in future.

scholarly journals Vaccination strategy and anti - SARS-CoV-2 S titers in healthcare workers of the INT – IRCCS “Fondazione Pascale” Cancer Center (Naples, Italy)

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernesta Cavalcanti ◽  
Maria Antonietta Isgrò ◽  
Domenica Rea ◽  
Lucia Di Capua ◽  
Giusy Trillò ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Vaccination Strategy ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the resulting disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have spread to millions of people globally, requiring the development of billions of different vaccine doses. The SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA vaccine (named BNT162b2/Pfizer), authorized by the FDA, has shown high efficacy in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection after administration of two doses in individuals 16 years of age and older. In the present study, we retrospectively evaluated the differences in the SARS-CoV-2 humoral immune response after vaccine administration in the two different cohorts of workers at the INT - IRCCS “Fondazione Pascale” Cancer Center (Naples, Italy): previously infected to SARS-CoV-2 subjects and not infected to SARS-CoV-2 subjects. Methods We determined specific anti-RBD (receptor-binding domain) titers against trimeric spike glycoprotein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 by Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay in serum samples of 35 healthcare workers with a previous documented history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 158 healthcare workers without, after 1 and 2 doses of vaccine, respectively. Moreover, geometric mean titers and relative fold changes (FC) were calculated. Results Both previously infected and not infected to SARS-CoV-2 subjects developed significant immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 after the administration of 1 and 2 doses of vaccine, respectively. Anti-S antibody responses to the first dose of vaccine were significantly higher in previously SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects in comparison to titers of not infected subjects after the first as well as the second dose of vaccine. Fold changes for subjects previously infected to SARS-CoV-2 was very modest, given the high basal antibody titer, as well as the upper limit of 2500.0 BAU/mL imposed by the Roche methods. Conversely, for naïve subjects, mean fold change following the first dose was low ($$ \overline{x} $$ x ¯ =1.6), reaching 3.8 FC in 72 subjects (45.6%) following the second dose. Conclusions The results showed that, as early as the first dose, SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals developed a remarkable and statistically significant immune response in comparison to those who did not contract the virus previously, suggesting the possibility of administering only one dose in previously SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects. FC for previously infected subjects should not be taken into account for the generally high pre-vaccination values. Conversely, FC for not infected subjects, after the second dose, were = 3.8 in > 45.0% of vaccinees, and ≤ 3.1 in 19.0%, the latter showing a potential susceptibility to further SARS-CoV-2 infection.

scholarly journals International Perspectives on COVID-19 Communication Ecologies: Public Health Agencies’ Online Communication in Italy, Sweden, and the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 000276422199283
Author(s):  
Serena Tagliacozzo ◽  
Frederike Albrecht ◽  
N. Emel Ganapati
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
The United States ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Communication Ecology ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
National Public Health

Communicating during a crisis can be challenging for public agencies as their communication ecology becomes increasingly complex while the need for fast and reliable public communication remains high. Using the lens of communication ecology, this study examines the online communication of national public health agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, Sweden, and the United States. Based on content analysis of Twitter data ( n = 856) and agency press releases ( n = 95), this article investigates two main questions: (1) How, and to what extent, did national public health agencies coordinate their online communication with other agencies and organizations? (2) How was online communication from the agencies diversified in terms of targeting specific organizations and social groups? Our findings indicate that public health agencies relied heavily on internal scientific expertise and predominately coordinated their communication efforts with national government agencies. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that agencies in each country differed in how they diversify information; however, all agencies provided tailored information to at least some organizations and social groups. Across the three countries, information tailored for several vulnerable groups (e.g., pregnant women, people with disabilities, immigrants, and homeless populations) was largely absent, which may contribute to negative consequences for these groups.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document