Profiling Antibody Response Patterns in COVID-19: Spike S1-Reactive IgA Signature in the Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

This contribution explores in a new statistical perspective the antibody responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 141 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients exhibiting a broad range of clinical manifestations. This cohort accurately reflects the characteristics of the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy. We determined the IgM, IgA, and IgG levels towards SARS-CoV-2 S1, S2, and NP antigens, evaluating their neutralizing activity and relationship with clinical signatures. Moreover, we longitudinally followed 72 patients up to 9 months postsymptoms onset to study the persistence of the levels of antibodies. Our results showed that the majority of COVID-19 patients developed an early virus-specific antibody response. The magnitude and the neutralizing properties of the response were heterogeneous regardless of the severity of the disease. Antibody levels dropped over time, even though spike reactive IgG and IgA were still detectable up to 9 months. Early baseline antibody levels were key drivers of the subsequent antibody production and the long-lasting protection against SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, we identified anti-S1 IgA as a good surrogate marker to predict the clinical course of COVID-19. Characterizing the antibody response after SARS-CoV-2 infection is relevant for the early clinical management of patients as soon as they are diagnosed and for implementing the current vaccination strategies.

The effect of Stachys inflata on the performance of broiler chickens and Newcastle Disease Antibody Titer

This study shows how performance and NDHI titers of broiler chickens are affected by the plant Stachys inflatay. One hundred and eighty, one day old Ross male broiler chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups of 36 (consisting of 3 replicates) and placed in 12 separate pens. Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 received 0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.45 and 0.6% S.inflata in their feed respectively from 8 to 42 days of age. Performance indexes were recorded on a weekly basis. At 42 days of age, serum and mid gut samples were taken for NDHI test and histopathological studies. The results were analyzed by the One Way ANOVA, Tukey test. The body weight of the second group was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher than the control from the third week to the end. All treatment groups had HI titers higher than the control but the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). In the third group (0.3% S.inflata), relative liver and heart weight were significantly lower than control. No microscopic lesions were observed in mid gut in all experimental groups. It seems that S. inflata reduces harmful intestinal flora which causes better use of feed.

Symptoms and biomarkers associated with undiagnosed celiac seropositivity

Background Studies have indicated that underdiagnosis and diagnostic delay are common in celiac disease. Therefore, it is important to increase our knowledge of what symptoms and biomarkers could identify undiagnosed cases of celiac disease. Methods We screened for celiac disease antibodies in stored blood samples from 16,776 participants in eight population-based studies examined during 1976–2012. Undiagnosed celiac seropositivity was defined as celiac disease antibody positivity (IgG-deamidated gliadin peptide above 10.0 U/mL and/or IgA-tissue transglutaminase (TTG) or IgG-TTG above 7.0 U/mL) without a known diagnosis of celiac disease in the National Patient Register. In all studies general health symptoms were recorded by participant-completed questionnaire, including self-perceived health, tiredness, headache and gastrointestinal symptoms. Furthermore, blood samples were drawn for analyses of biomarkers e.g. hemoglobin, blood glucose, cholesterol, liver parameters and vitamins. The participants with undiagnosed celiac seropositivity were matched by sex, age and study with four controls among the celiac disease antibody negative participants. Results We excluded, five participants with known celiac disease, resulting in a population of 16,771 participants. In this population 1% (169/16,771) had undiagnosed celiac seropositivity. There were no statistically significant differences in symptoms between cases and controls. Undiagnosed celiac seropositivity was associated with low blood cholesterol (< 5 mmol/L) and low hemoglobin (< 7.3 mmol/L for women and < 8.3 mmol/L for men). Conclusion In this general population study, undiagnosed cases of celiac seropositivity did not have more symptoms than controls, confirming the diagnostic difficulties of celiac disease and the low prognostic value of symptoms for a diagnosis of celiac disease. Furthermore, decreased levels of cholesterol and/or hemoglobin in the blood were associated with undiagnosed celiac seropositivity.

SEROLOGICAL SURVEY OF INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE ANTIBODY IN LOCAL CHICKEN

Serological evidence for infectious bursal disease virus antibody in local chicken in Ago-Iwoye area of Ogun State was detected using agar gel precipitation test. 51 out of the 98 sera samples tested were positive for precipitating antibody against infectious bursal disease.

Influence of HLA-DQ2.5 Dose on Clinical Picture of Unrelated Celiac Disease Patients

The clinical phenotype of celiac disease varies considerably among patients and the dosage of HLA-DQ2.5 alleles has been suggested to be a contributing factor. We investigated whether HLA-DQ2.5 allele dosage is associated with distinct clinical parameters at the time of diagnosis and with patients’ response to a gluten-free diet. The final cohort included 605 carefully phenotyped non-related Finnish celiac disease patients grouped as having 0, 1 or 2 copies of HLA-DQ2.5. Clinical data at the time of diagnosis and during gluten-free diet were collected systematically from medical records and supplementary interviews. An increasing HLA-DQ2.5 dose effect was detected for celiac disease antibody positivity at diagnosis (p = 0.021) and for the presence of any first-degree relatives with celiac disease (p = 0.011 and p = 0.031, respectively). Instead, DQ2.5-negative patients were suffering most often from classical symptoms at diagnosis (p = 0.007 between HLA groups). In addition, during follow-up they were most often symptomatic despite a gluten-free diet (p = 0.002 between groups). Our results thus suggest that increasing HLA-DQ2.5 dose only has a minor effect on the clinical picture of celiac disease. However, HLA-DQ2.5-negative patients should not be overlooked in clinical practice and particular attention should be paid to this patient group during gluten-free diet.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN IMUNOMODULATOR JINTAN HITAM (Nigella sativa L.) DI DALAM AIR MINUM TERHADAP TITTER ANTIBODI AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI) DAN NEWCASTLE DISEASE (ND) PADA BROILER BETINA

The aim of this research was to know the effectiveness of Nigella sativa L. as an immunomodulator given in drinking water with different doses on AI and ND antibody titers in female broilers. This research was conducted in December 2019 -- January 2020 at the Integrated Field Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung. The antibody titers was analyzed at the Lampung Veteriner Virology Laboratory in Lampung. This study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments and three replications; namely drinking water without Nigella sativa L. (control) (P0), drinking water with 36 mg/kg BW/day Nigella sativa L., drinking water with 72 mg/kg BW/day Nigella sativa L., and drinking water with 144 mg/kg BW/day Nigella sativa L. The antibody titer data from each treatment and control was arranged in the form of a histogram and simple tabulations and then were analyzed descriptively. The results of this study indicated that female broilers given Nigella sativa L. was effective in increasing Newcastle Disease antibody titers and was not effective in increasing Avian Influenza antibody titers in female broilers. Giving Nigella sativa L. As much as 36 mg/kg BW/day in drinking water could increase the Newcastle Disease antibody titer in female broilers. Keywords: Antibody titer, Avian Influenza, Female broilers, Immunomodulator, Newcastle Disease, Nigella sativa L.

Antibodies targeting epitopes on the cell-surface form of NS1 protect against Zika virus infection during pregnancy

There are no licensed therapeutics or vaccines available against Zika virus (ZIKV) to counteract its potential for congenital disease. Antibody-based countermeasures targeting the ZIKV envelope protein have been hampered by concerns for cross-reactive responses that induce antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of heterologous flavivirus infection. Nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is a membrane-associated and secreted glycoprotein that functions in flavivirus replication and immune evasion but is absent from the virion. Although some studies suggest that antibodies against ZIKV NS1 are protective, their activity during congenital infection is unknown. Here we develop mouse and human anti-NS1 monoclonal antibodies that protect against ZIKV in both non-pregnant and pregnant mice. Avidity of antibody binding to cell-surface NS1 along with Fc effector functions engagement correlate with protection in vivo. Protective mAbs map to exposed epitopes in the wing domain and loop face of the β-platform. Anti-NS1 antibodies provide an alternative strategy for protection against congenital ZIKV infection without causing ADE.