Duration of SARS-CoV-2 sero-positivity in a large longitudinal sero-surveillance cohort: the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership

Abstract Background Estimating population prevalence and incidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential to formulate public health recommendations concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. However, interpreting estimates based on sero-surveillance requires an understanding of the duration of elevated antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in the large number of people with pauci-symptomatic or asymptomatic disease. Methods We examined > 30,000 serology assays for SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG and IgM assays acquired longitudinally in 11,468 adults between April and November 2020 in the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership. Results Among participants with serologic evidence for infection but few or no symptoms or clinical disease, roughly 50% sero-reverted in 30 days of their initial positive test. Sero-reversion occurred more quickly for IgM than IgG and for antibodies targeting nucleocapsid protein compared with spike proteins, but was not associated with age, sex, race/ethnicity, or healthcare worker status. Conclusions The short duration of antibody response suggests that the true population prevalence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection may be significantly higher than presumed based on earlier sero-surveillance studies. The impact of the large number of minimally symptomatic COVID-19 cases with only a brief antibody response on population immunity remains to be determined.

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Duration of SARS-CoV-2 Sero-Positivity in a Large Longitudinal Sero-Surveillance Cohort: The COVID-19 Community Research Partnership

10.1101/2021.01.27.21250615 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

David M Herrington ◽

Keyword(s):

Antibody Response ◽

Community Research ◽

Research Partnership ◽

Population Immunity ◽

Population Prevalence ◽

Serologic Evidence ◽

Specific Igg ◽

The Impact ◽

Asymptomatic Disease ◽

True Population

Background: Estimating population prevalence and incidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential to formulate public health recommendations concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. However, interpreting estimates based on sero-surveillance requires an understanding of the duration of elevated antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in the large number of people with pauci-symptomatic or asymptomatic disease. Methods: We examined >30,000 serology assays for SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG and IgM assays acquired longitudinally in 11,468 adults between April and November 2020 in the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership. Findings: Among participants with serologic evidence for infection but few or no symptoms or clinical disease, roughly 50% sero-reverted in 30 days of their initial positive test. Sero-reversion occurred more quickly for IgM than IgG and for antibodies targeting nucleocapsid protein compared with spike proteins, but was not associated with age, sex, race/ethnicity, or healthcare worker status. Interpretation: The short duration of antibody response suggests that the true population prevalence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection may be significantly higher than presumed based on earlier sero-surveillance studies. The impact of the large number of minimally symptomatic COVID-19 cases with only a brief antibody response on population immunity remains to be determined.

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Analysis of Accumulated SARS-CoV-2 Seroconversion in North Carolina: The COVID-19 Community Research Partnership

10.1101/2021.03.11.21253226 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

John C. Williamson ◽

Thomas F Wierzba ◽

Michele Santacatterina ◽

Iqra Munawar ◽

Austin L Seals ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Community Research ◽

Separate Analysis ◽

Research Partnership ◽

Cumulative Proportion ◽

The Impact

AbstractIntroductionThe COVID-19 Community Research Partnership is a population-based longitudinal syndromic and sero-surveillance study. The study includes over 17,000 participants from six healthcare systems in North Carolina who submitted over 49,000 serology results. The purpose of this study is to use these serology data to estimate the cumulative proportion of the North Carolina population that has either been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or developed a measurable humoral response to vaccination.MethodsAdult community residents were invited to participate in the study between April 2020 and February 2021. Demographic information was collected and daily symptom screen was completed using a secure, HIPPA-compliant, online portal. A portion of participants were mailed kits containing a lateral flow assay to be used in-home to test for presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM or IgG antibodies. The cumulative proportion of participants who tested positive at least once during the study was calculated. A standard Cox proportional hazards model was constructed to illustrate the probability of seroconversion over time up to December 20, 2020 (before vaccines available). A separate analysis was performed to describe the influence of vaccines during an extended period through February 15, 2021.Results17,688 participants contributed at least one serology result. Approximately two-thirds of the population were female and almost three-quarters were between 30 and 64 years of age. The average number of serology test results submitted per participant was 3.0 (±1.9). At December 20, 2020, the overall probability of seropositivity in the CCRP population was 32.6%. At February 15, 2021 the probability among healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers was 83% and 49%, respectively. An inflection upward in the probability of seropositivity was demonstrated around the end of December, suggesting an influence of vaccinations, especially for healthcare workers. Among healthcare workers, those in the oldest age category (60+ years) were 38% less likely to have seroconverted by February 15, 2021.ConclusionsResults of this study suggest more North Carolina residents may have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 than the number of documented cases as determined by positive RNA or antigen tests. The influence of vaccinations on seropositivity among North Carolina residents is also demonstrated. Additional research is needed to fully characterize the impact of seropositivity on immunity and the ultimate course of the pandemic.

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The impact of vaccination on the breadth and magnitude of the antibody response to influenza A viruses in HIV-infected individuals

AIDS ◽

10.1097/qad.0000000000000772 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (14) ◽

pp. 1803-1810 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ines Kohler ◽

Roger Kouyos ◽

Matteo Bianchi ◽

Christina Grube ◽

Arkadiusz Wyrzucki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibody Response ◽

Influenza A ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

The Impact

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Antibody response to BTN162b2 mRNA vaccination in naïve versus SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects with and without waning immunity

10.21203/rs.3.rs-440410/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Donato Zipeto ◽

Luca Dalle Carbonare ◽

Maria Teresa Valenti ◽

Zeno Bisoffi ◽

Chiara Piubelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibody Response ◽

Vaccine Dose ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Serum Neutralization ◽

Iga Response ◽

Waning Immunity ◽

Specific Igg

Abstract We profiled antibody responses in a cohort of recipients of the BTN162b2 mRNA vaccine who were either immunologically naïve (n=50) or had been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 (n=51). Of the previously infected, 25 and 26 were infected during the first and second pandemic waves in Italy, respectively; the majority of those from the first wave had corresponding waning immunity with low to undetectable levels of anti-S antibodies and low anti-N antibodies. We observed in recipients who had been previously infected that spike-specific IgG and pseudovirus neutralization titers were rapidly recalled by a single vaccine dose to higher levels than those in naïve recipients after the second vaccine dose, irrespective of waning immunity. In all recipients, a single vaccine dose was sufficient to induce a potent IgA response that was not associated with serum neutralization titers.

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COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors: impact of vaccination on antibody levels, breakthrough infections and reinfection rate.

10.1101/2021.07.13.21260414 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Massimo La Raja ◽

Monia Pacenti ◽

Ileana Grimaldi ◽

Caterina Boldrin ◽

Margherita Cattai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibody Response ◽

Antibody Level ◽

Natural Infection ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Reinfection Rate ◽

Post Vaccination ◽

Exponential Increase ◽

The One ◽

Antibody Levels ◽

The Impact

From April 2020 through May 2021 in Padova Province 3395 COVID-19 recovered patients were recruited as potential convalescent plasma donors and tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Since January 2021 COVID-19 vaccination campaign began in Italy, the impact of vaccination on antibody levels and suspect vaccine breakthrough infections in these subjects were investigated. Post-vaccination anti-Sars-Cov-2 antibody level in 54 previously infected subjects had an exponential increase compared to pre-vaccination level regardless of the number of vaccine doses. However after 100 days from vaccination SARS-CoV-2 antibody level tends to decline. Post-vaccination primary infections were detected in 15 cases, with 3 possible breakthrough infections after a full vaccination course. In these cases, antibody response after infection was present but weaker than the one of subjects vaccinated after natural infection. A trend toward stronger antibody response was observed with increasing distance between natural infection and vaccination. Additionally, 2 cases of asymptomatic reinfections are also discussed.

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The ‘Good Friday Agreement’ and cancer research on the island of Ireland: Evidence for the impact of a tripartite cancer research partnership

European Journal of Cancer ◽

10.1016/j.ejca.2020.01.014 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 129 ◽

pp. 15-22

Author(s):

Grant Lewison ◽

Anna Gavin ◽

Karen McCallion ◽

Ray McDermott ◽

Richard Sullivan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Research ◽

Research Partnership ◽

Good Friday ◽

Good Friday Agreement ◽

The Impact

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Estimating the burden of SARS-CoV-2 in France

Science ◽

10.1126/science.abc3517 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 369 (6500) ◽

pp. 208-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 208

Author(s):

Henrik Salje ◽

Cécile Tran Kiem ◽

Noémie Lefrancq ◽

Noémie Courtejoie ◽

Paolo Bosetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Credible Interval ◽

Control Measures ◽

Reproductive Number ◽

Infected Population ◽

Population Immunity ◽

The Impact ◽

Second Wave ◽

Death Data

France has been heavily affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and went into lockdown on 17 March 2020. Using models applied to hospital and death data, we estimate the impact of the lockdown and current population immunity. We find that 2.9% of infected individuals are hospitalized and 0.5% of those infected die (95% credible interval: 0.3 to 0.9%), ranging from 0.001% in those under 20 years of age to 8.3% in those 80 years of age or older. Across all ages, men are more likely to be hospitalized, enter intensive care, and die than women. The lockdown reduced the reproductive number from 2.90 to 0.67 (77% reduction). By 11 May 2020, when interventions are scheduled to be eased, we project that 3.5 million people (range: 2.1 million to 6.0 million), or 5.3% of the population (range: 3.3 to 9.3%), will have been infected. Population immunity appears to be insufficient to avoid a second wave if all control measures are released at the end of the lockdown.

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Trends in Poliovirus Seroprevalence in Kano State, Northern Nigeria

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciy637 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 67 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. S103-S109

Author(s):

Harish Verma ◽

Zubairu Iliyasu ◽

Kehinde T Craig ◽

Natalie A Molodecky ◽

Utibeabasi Urua ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Age Groups ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Immunization Coverage ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Age Group ◽

Parental Consent ◽

Population Immunity ◽

Antibody Titres ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Kano state has been a protracted reservoir of poliovirus in Nigeria. Immunity trends have been monitored through seroprevalence surveys since 2011. The survey in 2015 was, in addition, intended to assess the impact of use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). Methods It was a health facility based seroprevalence survey. Eligible children aged 6-9, 12-15 and 19-22 months of age brought to the paediatrics outpatient department of Murtala Mohammad Specialist Hospital between 19 October and 6 November 2015, were screened for eligibility. Eligible children were enrolled after parental consent, history taken, physical examination conducted, and a blood sample collected to test for neutralizing antibody titres against the three poliovirus serotypes. Results Overall, 365 results were available in the three age groups. In the 6-9-month-old age group, the seroprevalence was 73% (95% confidence interval [CI] 64-80%), 83% (95% CI 75-88%), and 66% (95% CI 57-73%) for serotypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In the 12-15- and 19-22-month-old age groups, seroprevalence was higher but still remained <90% across serotypes. Seroprevalence to serotypes 1 and 3 in 2015 was similar to 2014; however, for serotype 2 there was a significant improvement. IPV received in supplemental immunization activities was found to be a significant predictor of seropositivity among 6-9-month-old infants for serotypes 1 and 2. Conclusions Seroprevalence for serotypes 1 and 3 remains low (<80%) in 6-9-month-olds. This poses a significant risk for poliovirus spread if reintroduced into the population. Efforts to strengthen immunization coverage are imperative to secure and sustain high population immunity.

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Impact of high baseline Aspergillus-specific IgG levels on weight and quality-of-life outcomes of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis

Medical Mycology ◽

10.1093/mmy/myaa026 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (7) ◽

pp. 1000-1004

Author(s):

Felix Bongomin ◽

Tomaz Garcez ◽

David W Denning

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Antifungal Treatment ◽

Weight Changes ◽

Pulmonary Aspergillosis ◽

Group A ◽

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis ◽

Specific Igg ◽

Group B ◽

The Impact

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the impact of quantitative baseline Aspergillus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) serum levels on weight changes of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) under antifungal treatment. We retrospectively reviewed data of patients diagnosed with CPA between April 2015 and March 2018 at the National Aspergillosis Centre (Manchester, UK). All patients were on continued antifungal treatment for 12 months. Data on Aspergillus-specific IgG levels, St George's quality of life (SGQoL) variables and weight at baseline, 6 months and 12 months were extracted. We defined a high serum Aspergillus-specific IgG as ≥ 200 mg/l (Group A) and low level < 200 mg/l (Group B). Forty-nine patients (37 male; 12 female), median age 65 years (range: 29–86) were studied. Overall, 33% (n = 16) of the patients were in Group A. The baseline characteristics between the two groups were similar. The median Charlson comorbidity index was 4 (range: 0–5) and 3 (range: 0–9) for Group A and Group B, respectively (P = .543). There was a sustained decline in median Aspergillus IgG levels from baseline, through 6 month to 12 months of continues therapy from 170 (range: 20–1110) to 121 (range: 20–1126), and finally 107 (15–937) mg/l, respectively (P < .001). Group A patients gained more weight at 6 months (9/15 [60%] vs. 7/33 [21%], P = .012) and at 12 months of treatment (9/15 [60%] vs. 7/33 [22%]), and more patients in Group B lost weight ((13/33 [41%] vs. 1/15 [7%]), P = .015). However, there was no difference in QoL outcomes across groups at 6 (P = .3) and 12 (P = .7) months. A very high Aspergillus IgG may confer a higher likelihood of weight gain as a key, objective marker of clinical response, if patients can tolerate 12 months of antifungal therapy.

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Dense Bodies of a gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131 Pentamer-Repaired Towne Strain of Human Cytomegalovirus Induce an Enhanced Neutralizing Antibody Response

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00931-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (17) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Caroline Lehmann ◽

Jessica Julia Falk ◽

Nicole Büscher ◽

Inessa Penner ◽

Christine Zimmermann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Antibody Response ◽

Human Cytomegalovirus ◽

Protein Complex ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

Laboratory Strain ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Critical Question ◽

Dense Bodies ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACTThe development of a vaccine against human cytomegalovirus infection (HCMV) is a high-priority medical goal. The viral pentameric protein complex consisting of glycoprotein H (gH)/gL/UL128-131A (PC) is considered to be an important vaccine component. Its relevance to the induction of a protective antibody response is, however, still a matter of debate. We addressed this issue by using subviral dense bodies (DBs) of HCMV. DBs are exceptionally immunogenic. Laboratory HCMV strain DBs harbor important neutralizing antibody targets, like the glycoproteins B, H, L, M, and N, but they are devoid of the PC. To be able to directly compare the impact of the PC on the levels of neutralizing antibody (NT-abs) responses, a PC-positive variant of the HCMV laboratory strain Towne was established by bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) mutagenesis (Towne-UL130rep). This strain synthesized PC-positive DBs upon infection of fibroblasts. These DBs were used in side-by-side immunizations with PC-negative Towne DBs. Mouse and rabbit sera were tested to address the impact of the PC on DB immunogenicity. The neutralizing antibody response to PC-positive DBs was superior to that of PC-negative DBs, as tested on fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells and for both animal species used. The experiments revealed the potential of the PC to enhance the antibody response against HCMV. Of particular interest was the finding that PC-positive DBs induced an antibody response that blocked the infection of fibroblasts by a PC-positive viral strain more efficiently than sera following immunizations with PC-negative particles.IMPORTANCEInfections with the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) may cause severe and even life-threatening disease manifestations in newborns and immunosuppressed individuals. Several strategies for the development of a vaccine against this virus are currently pursued. A critical question in this respect refers to the antigenic composition of a successful vaccine. Using a subviral particle vaccine candidate, we show here that one protein complex of HCMV, termed the pentameric complex (PC), enhances the neutralizing antibody response against viral infection of different cell types. We further show for the first time that this not only relates to the infection of epithelial or endothelial cells; the presence of the PC in the particles also enhanced the neutralizing antibody response against the infection of fibroblasts by HCMV. Together, these findings argue in favor of including the PC in strategies for HCMV vaccine development.

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