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Streeck H, Jansen K, Crowell TA, Esber A, Jessen HK, Cordes C, Scholten S, Schneeweiss S, Brockmeyer N, Spinner CD, Bickel M, Esser S, Hartikainen J, Stoehr A, Lehmann C, Marcus U, Vehreschild JJ, Knorr A, Brillen AL, Tiemann C, Robb ML, Michael NL. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis was associated with no impact on sexually transmitted infection prevalence in a high-prevalence population of predominantly men who have sex with men, Germany, 2018 to 2019. EURO SURVEILLANCE : BULLETIN EUROPEEN SUR LES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES = EUROPEAN COMMUNICABLE DISEASE BULLETIN 2022; 27. [PMID: 35393933 PMCID: PMC8991735 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2022.27.14.2100591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Despite increased use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Germany, HIV infection rates are not declining and little is known about how this prevention method affects the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM). Aim We studied, in a large multicentre cohort, STI point prevalence, co-infection rates, anatomical location and influence of PrEP. Methods The BRAHMS study was a prospective cohort study conducted at 10 sites in seven major German cities that enrolled MSM reporting increased sexual risk behaviour. At screening visits, MSM were tested for Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Treponema pallidum (TP), and given a behavioural questionnaire. With binomial regression, we estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of PrEP and STI. Results We screened 1,043 MSM in 2018 and 2019, with 53.0% currently using PrEP. At screening, 370 participants (35.5%) had an STI. The most common pathogen was MG in 198 (19.0%) participants, followed by CT (n = 133; 12.8%), NG (n = 105; 10.1%) and TP (n = 37; 3.5%). Among the 370 participants with at least one STI, 14.6% (n = 54) reported STI-related symptoms. Infection prevalence was highest at anorectal site (13.4% MG, 6.5% NG, 10.2% CT). PrEP use was not statistically significant in adjusted models for STI (PR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.91–1.32), NG/CT, only NG or only CT. Conclusions Prevalence of asymptomatic STI was high, and PrEP use did not influence STI prevalence in MSM eligible for PrEP according to national guidelines.
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Kremsner PG, Ahuad Guerrero RA, Arana-Arri E, Aroca Martinez GJ, Bonten M, Chandler R, Corral G, De Block EJL, Ecker L, Gabor JJ, Garcia Lopez CA, Gonzales L, Granados González MA, Gorini N, Grobusch MP, Hrabar AD, Junker H, Kimura A, Lanata CF, Lehmann C, Leroux-Roels I, Mann P, Martinez-Reséndez MF, Ochoa TJ, Poy CA, Reyes Fentanes MJ, Rivera Mejia LM, Ruiz Herrera VV, Sáez-Llorens X, Schönborn-Kellenberger O, Schunk M, Sierra Garcia A, Vergara I, Verstraeten T, Vico M, Oostvogels L, Lovesio L, Diez F, Grazziani F, Ganaha MC, Zalatnik VJ, Dittrich RJ, Espínola L, Lambert S, Longhi A, Vecchio C, Mastruzzo M, Fernandez A, Borchowiek S, Potito R, Ahuad Guerrero RA, Guardiani FM, Castella S, Foccoli M, Pedernera A, Braida A, Durigan V, Martella C, Bobat A, Boggia BE, Nemi SA, Tartaglione JG, Piedimonte FC, De Bie J, Reynales Londoño H, Rodríguez Ordoñez PA, García Cruz JM, Bautista Toloza L, Ladino González MC, Zambrano Ochoa AP, Prieto Pradera I, Torres Hernandez D, Mazo Elorza DP, Collazos Lennis MF, Vanegas Dominguez B, Solano Mosquera LM, Fendel R, Fleischmann WA, Koehne E, Kreidenweiss A, Köhler C, Esen M, Horn C, Eberts S, Kroidl A, Huber K, Thiel V, Mazara Rosario S, Reyes G, Rivera L, Donastorg Y, Lantigua F, Torres Almanzar D, Candelario R, Peña Mendez L, Rosario Gomez N, Portolés-Pérez A, Ascaso del Río A, Laredo Velasco L, Bustinduy Odriozola MJ, Larrea Arranz I, Martínez Alcorta LI, Durán Laviña MI, Imaz-Ayo N, Meijide S, García-de-Vicuña A, Santorcuato A, Gallego M, Aguirre-García GM, Olmos Vega J, González Limón P, Vázquez Villar A, Chávez Barón J, Arredondo Saldaña F, Luján Palacios JDD, Camacho Choza LJ, Vázquez Saldaña EG, Ortega Dominguez SJ, Vega Orozco KS, Torres Quiroz IA, Martinez Avendaño A, Herrera Sanchez J, Guzman E, Castro Castrezana L, Ruiz Palacios y Santos GM, de Winter RFJ, de Jonge HK, Schnyder JL, Boersma W, Hessels L, Djamin R, van der Sar S, DeAntonio R, Peña M, Rebollon G, Rojas M, Escobar J, Hammerschlag Icaza B, Wong T DY, Barrera Perigault P, Ruiz S, Chan M, Arias Hoo DJ, Gil AI, Celis CR, Balmaceda MP, Flores O, Ochoa M, Peña B, de la Flor C, Webb CM, Cornejo E, Sanes F, Mayorga V, Valdiviezo G, Ramírez Lamas SP, Grandez Castillo GA, Lama JR, Matta Aguirre ME, Arancibia Luna LA, Carbajal Paulet Ó, Zambrano Ortiz J, Camara A, Guzman Quintanilla F, Diaz-Parra C, Morales-Oliva J, Cornejo RE, Ricalde SA, Vidal J, Rios Nogales L, Cheatham-Seitz D, Gregoraci G, Brecx A, Walz L, Vahrenhorst D, Seibel T, Quintini G. Efficacy and safety of the CVnCoV SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine candidate in ten countries in Europe and Latin America (HERALD): a randomised, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 2b/3 trial. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 22:329-340. [PMID: 34826381 PMCID: PMC8610426 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00677-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Additional safe and efficacious vaccines are needed to control the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to analyse the efficacy and safety of the CVnCoV SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine candidate. METHODS HERALD is a randomised, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 2b/3 clinical trial conducted in 47 centres in ten countries in Europe and Latin America. By use of an interactive web response system and stratification by country and age group (18-60 years and ≥61 years), adults with no history of virologically confirmed COVID-19 were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive intramuscularly either two 0·6 mL doses of CVnCoV containing 12 μg of mRNA or two 0·6 mL doses of 0·9% NaCl (placebo) on days 1 and 29. The primary efficacy endpoint was the occurrence of a first episode of virologically confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 of any severity and caused by any strain from 15 days after the second dose. For the primary endpoint, the trial was considered successful if the lower limit of the CI was greater than 30%. Key secondary endpoints were the occurrence of a first episode of virologically confirmed moderate-to-severe COVID-19, severe COVID-19, and COVID-19 of any severity by age group. Primary safety outcomes were solicited local and systemic adverse events within 7 days after each dose and unsolicited adverse events within 28 days after each dose in phase 2b participants, and serious adverse events and adverse events of special interest up to 1 year after the second dose in phase 2b and phase 3 participants. Here, we report data up to June 18, 2021. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04652102, and EudraCT, 2020-003998-22, and is ongoing. FINDINGS Between Dec 11, 2020, and April 12, 2021, 39 680 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either CVnCoV (n=19 846) or placebo (n=19 834), of whom 19 783 received at least one dose of CVnCoV and 19 746 received at least one dose of placebo. After a mean observation period of 48·2 days (SE 0·2), 83 cases of COVID-19 occurred in the CVnCoV group (n=12 851) in 1735·29 person-years and 145 cases occurred in the placebo group (n=12 211) in 1569·87 person-years, resulting in an overall vaccine efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19 of 48·2% (95·826% CI 31·0-61·4; p=0·016). Vaccine efficacy against moderate-to-severe COVID-19 was 70·7% (95% CI 42·5-86·1; CVnCoV 12 cases in 1735·29 person-years, placebo 37 cases in 1569·87 person-years). In participants aged 18-60 years, vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease was 52·5% (95% CI 36·2-64·8; CVnCoV 71 cases in 1591·47 person-years, placebo, 136 cases in 1449·23 person-years). Too few cases occurred in participants aged 61 years or older (CVnCoV 12, placebo nine) to allow meaningful assessment of vaccine efficacy. Solicited adverse events, which were mostly systemic, were more common in CVnCoV recipients (1933 [96·5%] of 2003) than in placebo recipients (1344 [67·9%] of 1978), with 542 (27·1%) CVnCoV recipients and 61 (3·1%) placebo recipients reporting grade 3 solicited adverse events. The most frequently reported local reaction after any dose in the CVnCoV group was injection-site pain (1678 [83·6%] of 2007), with 22 grade 3 reactions, and the most frequently reported systematic reactions were fatigue (1603 [80·0%] of 2003) and headache (1541 [76·9%] of 2003). 82 (0·4%) of 19 783 CVnCoV recipients reported 100 serious adverse events and 66 (0·3%) of 19 746 placebo recipients reported 76 serious adverse events. Eight serious adverse events in five CVnCoV recipients and two serious adverse events in two placebo recipients were considered vaccination-related. None of the fatal serious adverse events reported (eight in the CVnCoV group and six in the placebo group) were considered to be related to study vaccination. Adverse events of special interest were reported for 38 (0·2%) participants in the CVnCoV group and 31 (0·2%) participants in the placebo group. These events were considered to be related to the trial vaccine for 14 (<0·1%) participants in the CVnCoV group and for five (<0·1%) participants in the placebo group. INTERPRETATION CVnCoV was efficacious in the prevention of COVID-19 of any severity and had an acceptable safety profile. Taking into account the changing environment, including the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, and timelines for further development, the decision has been made to cease activities on the CVnCoV candidate and to focus efforts on the development of next-generation vaccine candidates. FUNDING German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and CureVac.
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Gruell H, Gunst JD, Cohen YZ, Pahus MH, Malin JJ, Platten M, Millard KG, Tolstrup M, Jones RB, Conce Alberto WD, Lorenzi JCC, Oliveira TY, Kümmerle T, Suárez I, Unson-O'Brien C, Nogueira L, Olesen R, Østergaard L, Nielsen H, Lehmann C, Nussenzweig MC, Fätkenheuer G, Klein F, Caskey M, Søgaard OS. Effect of 3BNC117 and romidepsin on the HIV-1 reservoir in people taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ROADMAP): a randomised, open-label, phase 2A trial. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2022; 3:e203-e214. [PMID: 35544074 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(21)00239-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The administration of broadly neutralising anti-HIV-1 antibodies before latency reversal could facilitate elimination of HIV-1-infected CD4 T cells. We tested this concept by combining the broadly neutralising antibody 3BNC117 in combination with the latency-reversing agent romidepsin in people with HIV-1 who were taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS We did a randomised, open-label, phase 2A trial at three university hospital centres in Denmark, Germany, and the USA. Eligible participants were virologically suppressed adults aged 18-65 years who were infected with HIV-1 and on ART for at least 18 months, with plasma HIV-1 RNA concentrations of less than 50 copies per mL for at least 12 months, and a CD4 T-cell count of greater than 500 cells per μL. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 3BNC117 plus romidepsin or romidepsin alone in two cycles. All participants received intravenous infusions of romidepsin (5 mg/m2 given over 120 min) at weeks 0, 1, and 2 (treatment cycle 1) and weeks 8, 9, and 10 (treatment cycle 2). Those in the 3BNC117 plus romidepsin group received an intravenous infusion of 3BNC117 (30 mg/kg given over 60 min) 2 days before each treatment cycle. An analytic treatment interruption (ATI) of ART was done at week 24 in both groups. Our primary endpoint was time to viral rebound during analytic treatment interruption, which was assessed in all participants who completed both treatment cycles and ATI. We used a log-rank test to compare time to viral rebound during analytic treatment interruption between the two groups. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02850016. It is closed to new participants, and all follow-up is complete. FINDINGS Between March 20, 2017, and Aug 14, 2018, 22 people were enrolled and randomly assigned, 11 to the 3BNC117 plus romidepsin group and 11 to the romidepsin group. 19 participants completed both treatment cycles and the ATI: 11 in the 3BNC117 plus romidepsin group and 8 in the romidepsin group. The median time to viral rebound during ATI was 18 days (IQR 14-28) in the 3BNC117 plus romidepsin group and 28 days (21-35) in the romidepsin group B (p=0·0016). Although this difference was significant, prolongation of time to viral rebound was not clinically meaningful in either group. All participants in both groups reported adverse events, but overall the combination of 3BNC117 and romidepsin was safe. Two severe adverse events were observed in the romidepsin group during 48 weeks of follow-up, one of which-increased direct bilirubin-was judged to be related to treatment. INTERPRETATION The combination of 3BNC117 and romidepsin was safe but did not delay viral rebound during analytic treatment interruptions in individuals on long-term ART. The results of our trial could serve as a benchmark for further optimisation of HIV-1 curative strategies among people with HIV-1 who are taking suppressive ART. FUNDING amfAR, German Center for Infection Research.
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Jacob AS, Kaul H, Fuchs M, Gillessen S, Kreissl S, Pluetschow A, Momotow J, Schaub V, Huettmann A, Haenel M, Zimmermann A, Dierlamm J, Meissner J, Mathas S, Martin S, Engert A, Hallek M, Borchmann P, Lehmann C. Impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown in Germany on the rate of acute infections during intensive chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma. Infection 2022; 50:925-932. [PMID: 35182355 PMCID: PMC8857743 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01765-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Evidence on the effect of self-protection via social distancing and wearing face-masks on infections during chemotherapy is currently not available. We asked if the occurrence of acute infections during chemotherapy for advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) decreased when COVID-19 protection measures were in effect. Methods We analyzed the occurrence of infections during all documented eBEACOPP cycles starting between 01 March and 30 June of 2017 to 2020 in patients treated within the GHSG HD21 study in Germany and compared the infection rates and characteristics by logistic regression models and means of descriptive statistics. Results We analyzed 911 cycles of 313 adult patients treated with 4 to 6 cycles of eBEACOPP. We found a significant decrease in the occurrence of infections during chemotherapy for HL during COVID-19 lockdown from 131 (19.6%) of 670 cycles in 2017–2019 to 30 (12.6%) of 239 cycles during COVID-19 lockdown [OR 0.574 (95% CI 0.354–0.930), P = 0.024]. The strongest effect was evident for unspecified infections with 39 cycles (5.8%) during 2017–2019 in comparison to 5 cycles (2.1%) during COVID-19 lockdown. 20 (24.1%) of 83 patients had an infection during the COVID-19 lockdown versus 99 (43.2%) of 229 patients in the years 2017–2019 (P = 0.0023). Conclusion The significant decrease of infections during chemotherapy for HL during COVID-19 lockdown reveals the protective measures’ potential to shield patients from transmissible pathogens. We conclude that these measures could be recommended for HL patients at risk for infections during chemotherapy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s15010-022-01765-3.
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Thomas Schleenvoigt B, Ankert J, Stocker H, Stoehr A, Lehmann C, Schulz C, Wesselmann H, Bickel M, Haberl A, Degen O, Pletz MW, Seybold U, Stephan C. [HIV First Diagnoses in Germany in 2014 - A Regional Analysis]. DAS GESUNDHEITSWESEN 2022; 84:e45-e52. [PMID: 35176792 DOI: 10.1055/a-1665-6762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information on testing units in health care is scarce, particularly the group of late-presenters among the HIV-first diagnoses is still a challenge in Germany. AIM Analysis of the impact of testing units on and reasons for the prevalence of HIV-first diagnoses and late presentation, taking 2014 for illustrative purposes. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cross-sectional analysis of all individuals, treated in the Network HIV-Regional who were first diagnosed with HIV in 2014; patient characteristics, demographic and clinical data, including information on HIV testing were collected retrospectively and in a decentralised manner, pseudonymized and statistically evaluated. RESULTS A total of 971 individuals with HIV-first diagnosis from 31 specialised care centres throughout Germany (15 hospitals, 16 private practices) represented 27.5% of all National HIV-first diagnoses -registrations from Robert Koch Institute for 2014, with similar results for CD4-cell count and HIV-transmission risk. The most common test site was a hospital (34.8%), followed by the office of a family doctor (19.6%) and medical specialist (16.1%). If the first diagnosis was established in hospital, then the patients were on average older than those tested on an ambulant care basis (42 vs. 37 years, p=0.001); moreover, the HI-viral load was higher (585 vs. 270 thousand copies/mL, p<0.001) and the CD4-cell count lower (265 vs. 414/µL, p<0.001). In 208/971 individuals with first diagnosis, at least one AIDS-defining disease was found, most frequently pneumocystis-pneumonia (43.8%), candidiasis (36.5%) and Kaposi sarcoma (10.6%). A regional comparison revealed that in eastern Germany, for first diagnosed HIV-patients were younger, had a higher HIV-RNA viral load and also more often clinical AIDS. CONCLUSION This analysis of HIV-Regional for 2014 enables a deeper insight into HIV first diagnoses, on the eve of the introduction of important prevention tools in Germany, e. g., HIV home testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis. This cross-sectional analysis was representative for Germany and underscores the importance of specialised hospitals, in particular for eastern Germany, and furthermore the involvement of late-presenters into HIV health care.
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Moldt B, Günthard HF, Workowski KA, Little SJ, Eron JJ, Overton ET, Lehmann C, Rokx C, Kozal MJ, Gandhi RT, Braun DL, Parvangada A, Li J, Martin R, Selzer L, Cox S, Margot N, Liu H, Slamowitz D, Makadzange T, Collins SE, Geleziunas R, Callebaut C. Evaluation of HIV-1 reservoir size and broadly neutralizing antibody susceptibility in acute antiretroviral therapy-treated individuals. AIDS 2022; 36:205-214. [PMID: 34586088 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Persistence of the viral reservoir is the main barrier to curing HIV. Initiation of ART during acute HIV infection can limit the size and diversity of the reservoir. In depth characterization of the reservoir in individuals who initiate ART during acute infection will be critical for clinical trial design and cure strategies. METHODS Four cohorts with participants who initiated ART during acute infection or during chronic infection were enrolled in a cross-sectional, noninterventional study. Viral reservoir was evaluated by the Intact Proviral DNA Assay (IPDA), the Total HIV DNA Assay (THDA) and the Quantitative Viral Outgrowth Assay (QVOA). Viral diversity and susceptibility to V3-glycan bNAbs were determined by genotyping of the viral envelope gene. RESULTS Participants who initiated ART during the acute Fiebig I-IV stages had lower level of total HIV DNA than participants who initiated ART during chronic infection whereas no difference was observed in intact HIV DNA or outgrowth virus. Participants who initiated ART during Fiebig I-IV also had lower viral diversity and appeared to have higher susceptibility to bNAbs than participants initiating ART during chronic infection. CONCLUSION Individuals initiating ART during Fiebig I-IV had small viral reservoirs, low viral diversity, and high susceptibility to bNAbs, and would be an optimal target population for proof-of-concept HIV cure trials.
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Poopalasingam N, Korenkov M, Ashurov A, Strobel J, Fish I, Hellmich M, Gruell H, Lehmann C, Heger E, Klein F. Determining the reliability of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection in fully vaccinated individuals. J Clin Virol 2022; 148:105119. [PMID: 35248992 PMCID: PMC8858005 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2022.105119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) are commonly used as SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests both by medical professionals and laypeople. However, the performance of RADT in vaccinated individuals has not been fully investigated. Objectives RT-qPCR and rapid antigen detection testing were performed to evaluate the performance of the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Test in detecting SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals. Study design Two swab specimens, one for RT-qPCR and one for RADT, were collected from vaccinated individuals in an outpatient clinic. For comparison of RADT performance in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, a dataset already published by this group was used as reference. Results During the delta wave, a total of 696 samples were tested with both RT-qPCR and RADT that included 692 (99.4%) samples from vaccinated individuals. Of these, 76 (11.0%) samples were detected SARS-CoV-2 positive by RT-qPCR and 45 (6.5%) samples by the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag test. Stratified by Ct values, sensitivity of the RADT was 100.0%, 94.4% and 81.1% for Ct ≤ 20 (n=18), Ct ≤ 25 (n=36) and Ct ≤ 30 (n=53), respectively. Samples with Ct values ≥ 30 (n=23) were not detected. Overall RADT specificity was 99.7% and symptom status did not affect RADT performance. Notably, RADT detected 4 out of 4 samples of probable Omicron variant infection based on single nucleotide polymorphism analysis. Conclusion Our results show that RADT testing remains a valuable tool in detecting breakthrough infections with high viral RNA loads.
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Wunsch M, Aschemeier D, Heger E, Ehrentraut D, Krüger J, Hufbauer M, Syed AS, Horemheb-Rubio G, Dewald F, Fish I, Schlotz M, Gruell H, Augustin M, Lehmann C, Kaiser R, Knops E, Silling S, Klein F. Safe and effective pool testing for SARS-CoV-2 detection. J Clin Virol 2021; 145:105018. [PMID: 34775143 PMCID: PMC8552800 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2021.105018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The global spread of SARS-CoV-2 is a serious public health issue. Large-scale surveillance screenings are crucial but can exceed test capacities. We (A) optimized test conditions and (B) implemented pool testing of respiratory swabs into SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics. Study design (A) We determined the optimal pooling strategy and pool size. In addition, we measured the impact of vortexing prior to sample processing, compared a pipette-pooling method (by combining transport medium of several specimens) and a swab-pooling method (by combining several swabs into a test tube filled with PBS) as well as determined the sensitivities of three PCR assays. (B) Finally, we applied high-throughput pool testing for diagnostics. Results (A) In a low prevalence setting, we defined a preferable pool size of ten in a two-stage hierarchical pool testing strategy. Vortexing of swabs (n = 33) increased cellular yield by a factor of 2.34. By comparing Ct-values of 16 pools generated with two different pooling strategies, pipette-pooling was more efficient compared to swab-pooling. Measuring dilution series of 20 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples in three PCR assays simultaneously revealed detection rates of 85% (assay I), 50% (assay II), and 95% (assay III) at a 1:100 dilution. (B) We systematically pooled 55,690 samples in a period of 44 weeks resulting in a reduction of 47,369 PCR reactions. Conclusions For implementing pooling strategies into high-throughput diagnostics, we recommend utilizing a pipette-pooling method, performing sensitivity validation of the PCR assays used, and vortexing swabs prior to analyses. Pool testing for SARS-CoV-2 detection is feasible and effective in a low prevalence setting.
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Schmidt-Hellerau K, Reiners K, Yagdiran A, Friedrichs N, Fischer J, Fätkenheuer G, Lehmann C, Jung N. Alveolar echinococcosis as a cause of vertebral osteomyelitis and soft tissue infection with recurrent cutaneous fistula formation. Int J Infect Dis 2021; 114:31-33. [PMID: 34715358 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Echinococcus multilocularis is endemic in Germany. However, alveolar echinococcosis is a rare disease. Most commonly the parasite affects the liver, behaving like a malignant tumour. Bones are affected in less than 2% of cases. We report a case of vertebral osteomyelitis accompanied by recurrent cutaneous fistula formation.
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Meyer M, Ruebsteck E, Gruell H, Klein F, Lehmann C, Wendt S, Huenseler C, Weber LT. COVID-19 study found that 0.4% of 5730 asymptomatic children aged 0-18 years tested positive for virus before hospital procedures or admission. Acta Paediatr 2021; 110:2584-2585. [PMID: 33894011 PMCID: PMC8251235 DOI: 10.1111/apa.15884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Meyer M, Holfter A, Ruebsteck E, Gruell H, Dewald F, Koerner RW, Klein F, Lehmann C, Huenseler C, Weber LT. The Alpha Variant (B.1.1.7) of SARS-CoV-2 in Children: First Experience from 3544 Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests in a Cohort of Children in Germany. Viruses 2021; 13:v13081600. [PMID: 34452464 PMCID: PMC8402740 DOI: 10.3390/v13081600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In May 2021, the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) of SARS-CoV-2 was found in 91% of the SARS-CoV-2 cases in Germany. Not much is known about the symptoms, courses of disease, and infectiousness in pediatric patients with the Alpha variant. Objective: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to gain information on the infection with the Alpha variant in children and adolescents. Methods: Between 12 January 2021 and 3 June 2021, all nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) of children who received a swab for SARS-CoV-2 were included. Data were collected on standardized questionnaires. The analysis of data was anonymized and retrospective. Results: We investigated 3544 NAATs; 95 children were tested positive (2.7%) for SARS-CoV-2. For the sub-analysis, 65 children were analyzed. In 59 children, the Alpha variant was found (90.8%), and 54.2% (n = 32/59) were symptomatic. The most common symptoms were fever, cough, and rhinitis. The median Ct value was 24.0 (min 17.0; max 32.7). Conclusions: We can underline early findings that children are still less effected by SARS-CoV-2 infection with the spread of the Alpha variant. We found no evidence that children infected with the Alpha variant showed more severe symptoms or suffered from a more severe clinical course than those infected with the wild type.
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Theobald SJ, Simonis A, Georgomanolis T, Kreer C, Zehner M, Eisfeld HS, Albert M, Chhen J, Motameny S, Erger F, Fischer J, Malin JJ, Gräb J, Winter S, Pouikli A, David F, Böll B, Koehler P, Vanshylla K, Gruell H, Suárez I, Hallek M, Fätkenheuer G, Jung N, Cornely OA, Lehmann C, Tessarz P, Altmüller J, Nürnberg P, Kashkar H, Klein F, Koch M, Rybniker J. Long-lived macrophage reprogramming drives spike protein-mediated inflammasome activation in COVID-19. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e14150. [PMID: 34133077 PMCID: PMC8350892 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202114150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate immunity triggers responsible for viral control or hyperinflammation in COVID-19 are largely unknown. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-protein) primes inflammasome formation and release of mature interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in macrophages derived from COVID-19 patients but not in macrophages from healthy SARS-CoV-2 naïve individuals. Furthermore, longitudinal analyses reveal robust S-protein-driven inflammasome activation in macrophages isolated from convalescent COVID-19 patients, which correlates with distinct epigenetic and gene expression signatures suggesting innate immune memory after recovery from COVID-19. Importantly, we show that S-protein-driven IL-1β secretion from patient-derived macrophages requires non-specific monocyte pre-activation in vivo to trigger NLRP3-inflammasome signaling. Our findings reveal that SARS-CoV-2 infection causes profound and long-lived reprogramming of macrophages resulting in augmented immunogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein, a major vaccine antigen and potent driver of adaptive and innate immune signaling.
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Stecher M, Schommers P, Kollan C, Stoll M, Kuhlendahl F, Stellbrink HJ, Wasmuth JC, Stephan C, Hamacher L, Lehmann C, Boesecke C, Bogner J, Esser S, Fritzsche C, Haberl A, Schürmann D, Degen O, Horst HA, Hoffmann C, Jensen B, Schwarze-Zander C, Platten M, Fätkenheuer G, Schmidt D, Gunsenheimer-Bartmeyer B, Vehreschild JJ. Correction to: Treatment modifcation after starting cART in people living with HIV: retrospective analysis of the German ClinSurv HIV Cohort 2005-2017. Infection 2021; 49:1365-1366. [PMID: 34346028 PMCID: PMC8613089 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-021-01655-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Schmidt-Hellerau K, Meyer-Schwickerath C, Paul G, Augustin M, Priesner V, Rybniker J, Suárez I, Hallek M, Burst V, Kolibay F, Fätkenheuer G, Lehmann C, Jung N. Providing care in isolation while awaiting SARS-CoV-2 test results: Considering differential diagnoses and avoiding anchoring bias. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e26720. [PMID: 34397706 PMCID: PMC8322513 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000026720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Isolation of confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases is essential but, as symptoms of COVID-19 are non-specific and test results not immediately available, case identification at admission remains challenging. To inform optimization of triage algorithms, patient flow and patient care, we analyzed characteristics of patients admitted to an isolation ward, both severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) positive patients and patients in which initial suspicion was not confirmed after appropriate testing.Data from patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 treated in an isolation unit were analyzed retrospectively. Symptoms, comorbidities and clinical findings were analyzed descriptively and associations between patient characteristics and final SARS-CoV-2 status were assessed using univariate regression.Eighty three patients (49 SARS-CoV-2 negative and 34 positive) were included in the final analysis. Of initially suspected COVID-19 cases, 59% proved to be SARS-CoV-2-negative. These patients had more comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index median 5(interquartile range [IQR] 2.5, 7) vs 2.7(IQR 1, 4)), and higher proportion of active malignancy than patients with confirmed COVID-19 (47% vs 15%; P = .004), while immunosuppression was frequent in both patient groups (20% vs 21%; P = .984). Of SARS-CoV-2 negative patients, 31% were diagnosed with non-infectious diseases.A high proportion of patients (59%) triaged to the isolation unit were tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Of these, many suffered from active malignancy (47%) and were immunosuppressed (20%). Non-infectious diseases were diagnosed in 31%, highlighting the need for appropriate patient flow, timely expert medical care including evaluation for differential diagnostics while providing isolation and ruling out of COVID-19 in these patients with complex underlying diseases.
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Paul G, Meißner A, Neuneier J, Neuschmelting V, Grau S, Yagdiran A, Scheyerer MJ, Malin JJ, Suárez I, Lehmann C, Exner M, Wiesmüller GA, Higgins PG, Seifert H, Fätkenheuer G, Zweigner J, Jung N. Outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections after CT-guided spinal injections. J Hosp Infect 2021; 116:1-9. [PMID: 34298033 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Meningitis and spinal infections with Gram-negative bacteria after local injections for treatment of chronic back pain are rare. This study investigated an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections following computed tomography (CT)-guided spinal injections (SI). METHODS A case was defined as a spinal infection or meningitis with P. aeruginosa after SI between 10th January and 1st March 2019 in the same outpatient clinic. Patients without microbiological evidence of P. aeruginosa but with a favourable response to antimicrobial therapy active against P. aeruginosa were defined as probable cases. FINDINGS Twenty-eight of 297 patients receiving CT-guided SI during the study period developed meningitis or spinal infections. Medical records were available for 19 patients. In 15 patients, there was microbiological evidence of P. aeruginosa, and four patients were defined as probable cases. Two of 19 patients developed meningitis, while the remaining 17 patients developed spinal infections. The median time from SI to hospital admission was 8 days (interquartile range 2-23 days). Patients mainly presented with back pain (N=18; 95%), and rarely developed fever (N=3; 16%). Most patients required surgery (N=16; 84%). Seven patients (37%) relapsed and one patient died. Although the source of infection was not identified microbiologically, documented failures in asepsis when performing SI probably contributed to these infections. CONCLUSIONS SI is generally considered safe, but non-adherence to asepsis can lead to deleterious effects. Spinal infections caused by P. aeruginosa are difficult to treat and have a high relapse rate.
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Augustin M, Lehmann C. Post-COVID syndrome: Turning convalescence into illness? - Authors' reply. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-EUROPE 2021; 7:100170. [PMID: 34308410 PMCID: PMC8275030 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Oberste M, Pusch LM, Roth R, Shah-Hosseini K, Dewald F, Müller C, Stach von Goltzheim L, Lehmann C, Buess M, Wolff A, Fätkenheuer G, Wiesmüller G, Klein F, Hellmich M, Neuhann F. Protocol of the Cologne Corona Surveillance (CoCoS) Study- a prospective population-based cohort study. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1295. [PMID: 34215236 PMCID: PMC8253235 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11206-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surveillance strategies are critical to cope with the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and to evaluate, as well as adjust government-imposed countermeasures. Incidence estimates are widely based on laboratory confirmed cases reported by health authorities. Prevalence and incidence data of SARS-CoV-2 is still scarce, along with demographic and behavioural factors associated with infection risk. METHODS The Cologne Corona Surveillance Study will be conducted in the City of Cologne, which is the fourth-largest city in Germany with a population of approximately 1.1 million. Researchers will apply self-sampling surveillance to a rolling cohort of Cologne residents. Random samples of 6000 Cologne residents 18 years of age and older will be drawn from the registration office. Upon receiving the information and saliva sample kit, participants will be asked to fill out a questionnaire online or via phone, sign written informed consent, and send back written consent, as well as saliva sample. The saliva samples will be tested for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse PCR. The questionnaire will be administered to gather information about personal characteristics such as health status and risks. A second round of testing will take place 6 weeks after the first. DISCUSSION Self-administered saliva sampling proved to be a legitimate and feasible alternative to nasopharyngeal swabs taken by health professionals. However, it is unclear whether the targeted response rate of 40% can be achieved and whether the results are representative of the population. TRIAL REGISTRATION DRKS.de, German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), Identifier: DRKS00024046 , Registered on 25 February 2021.
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Augustin M, Schommers P, Stecher M, Dewald F, Gieselmann L, Gruell H, Horn C, Vanshylla K, Cristanziano VD, Osebold L, Roventa M, Riaz T, Tschernoster N, Altmueller J, Rose L, Salomon S, Priesner V, Luers JC, Albus C, Rosenkranz S, Gathof B, Fätkenheuer G, Hallek M, Klein F, Suárez I, Lehmann C. Post-COVID syndrome in non-hospitalised patients with COVID-19: a longitudinal prospective cohort study. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2021; 6:100122. [PMID: 34027514 PMCID: PMC8129613 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 342] [Impact Index Per Article: 114.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the leading symptoms during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are acute and the majority of patients fully recover, a significant fraction of patients now increasingly experience long-term health consequences. However, most data available focus on health-related events after severe infection and hospitalisation. We present a longitudinal, prospective analysis of health consequences in patients who initially presented with no or minor symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Hence, we focus on mild COVID-19 in non-hospitalised patients. METHODS 958 Patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were observed from April 6th to December 2nd 2020 for long-term symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We identified anosmia, ageusia, fatigue or shortness of breath as most common, persisting symptoms at month 4 and 7 and summarised presence of such long-term health consequences as post-COVID syndrome (PCS). Predictors of long-term symptoms were assessed using an uni- and multivariable logistic regression model. FINDINGS We observed 442 and 353 patients over four and seven months after symptom onset, respectively. Four months post SARS-CoV-2 infection, 8•6% (38/442) of patients presented with shortness of breath, 12•4% (55/442) with anosmia, 11•1% (49/442) with ageusia and 9•7% (43/442) with fatigue. At least one of these characteristic symptoms was present in 27•8% (123/442) and 34•8% (123/353) at month 4 and 7 post-infection, respectively. A lower baseline level of SARS-CoV-2 IgG, anosmia and diarrhoea during acute COVID-19 were associated with higher risk to develop long-term symptoms. INTERPRETATION The on-going presence of either shortness of breath, anosmia, ageusia or fatigue as long-lasting symptoms even in non-hospitalised patients was observed at four and seven months post-infection and summarised as post-COVID syndrome (PCS). The continued assessment of patients with PCS will become a major task to define and mitigate the socioeconomic and medical long-term effects of COVID-19. FUNDING COVIM:"NaFoUniMedCovid19"(FKZ: 01KX2021).
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Stecher M, Chaillon A, Stephan C, Knops E, Kohmer N, Lehmann C, Eberle J, Bogner J, Spinner CD, Eis-Hübinger AM, Wasmuth JC, Schäfer G, Behrens G, Mehta SR, Vehreschild JJ, Hoenigl M. Drug Resistance Spread in 6 Metropolitan Regions, Germany, 2001-2018 1. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:2439-2443. [PMID: 32946725 PMCID: PMC7510719 DOI: 10.3201/eid2610.191506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
We analyzed 1,397 HIV-1 pol sequences of antiretroviral therapy–naive patients in a total of 7 university hospitals in Bonn, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, and Munich, Germany. Phylogenetic and network analysis elucidated numerous cases of shared drug resistance mutations among genetically linked patients; K103N was the most frequently shared mutation.
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Stemler J, Cornely OA, Noack-Schönborn T, Fohrholz C, Schumacher S, Poluschkin L, Binder B, Lehmann C, Langebartels G. Web-based, rapid and contactless management of ambulatory patients for SARS-CoV-2-testing. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:535. [PMID: 34098882 PMCID: PMC8182346 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06249-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic a mass casualty incident of ambulatory patients occurred at the COVID-19 rapid response infrastructure (CRRI) facility at the University Hospital of Cologne (UHC). We report the development of a patient-centred mobile-device solution to support efficient management of the facility, triage of patients and rapid delivery of test results. Methods The UHC-Corona Web Tool (CWT) was developed as a web-based software useable on each patient’s smartphone. It provides, among others, a self-reported medical history including type and duration of symptoms and potential risk contacts and links all retrieved information to the digital patient chart via a QR code. It provides scheduling of outpatient appointments and automated transmission of SARS-CoV-2 test results. Results The UHC-CWT was launched on 9 April 2020. It was used by 28,652 patients until 31 August 2020. Of those, 15,245 (53,2%) consulted the CRRI, representing 43,1% of all CRRI patients during the observed period. There were 8304 (29,0%) specifications concerning travel history and 17,145 (59,8%) indications of ≥1 symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The most frequently indicated symptoms were sore throat (60,0%), headache (50,7%), common cold (45,1%) and cough (42,6%) while 11,057 (40,2%) patients did not report any symptoms. After implementation of the UHC-CWT, the amount of patient contacts per physician rose from 38 to 98,7 per day. The personnel for communication of test results were reduced from four on seven days to one on five days. Conclusion The UHC-CWT is an effective digital solution for management of large numbers of outpatients for SARS-CoV-2 testing. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-06249-7.
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Warnat-Herresthal S, Schultze H, Shastry KL, Manamohan S, Mukherjee S, Garg V, Sarveswara R, Händler K, Pickkers P, Aziz NA, Ktena S, Tran F, Bitzer M, Ossowski S, Casadei N, Herr C, Petersheim D, Behrends U, Kern F, Fehlmann T, Schommers P, Lehmann C, Augustin M, Rybniker J, Altmüller J, Mishra N, Bernardes JP, Krämer B, Bonaguro L, Schulte-Schrepping J, De Domenico E, Siever C, Kraut M, Desai M, Monnet B, Saridaki M, Siegel CM, Drews A, Nuesch-Germano M, Theis H, Heyckendorf J, Schreiber S, Kim-Hellmuth S, Nattermann J, Skowasch D, Kurth I, Keller A, Bals R, Nürnberg P, Rieß O, Rosenstiel P, Netea MG, Theis F, Mukherjee S, Backes M, Aschenbrenner AC, Ulas T, Breteler MMB, Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ, Kox M, Becker M, Cheran S, Woodacre MS, Goh EL, Schultze JL. Swarm Learning for decentralized and confidential clinical machine learning. Nature 2021; 594:265-270. [PMID: 34040261 PMCID: PMC8189907 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03583-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Fast and reliable detection of patients with severe and heterogeneous illnesses is a major goal of precision medicine1,2. Patients with leukaemia can be identified using machine learning on the basis of their blood transcriptomes3. However, there is an increasing divide between what is technically possible and what is allowed, because of privacy legislation4,5. Here, to facilitate the integration of any medical data from any data owner worldwide without violating privacy laws, we introduce Swarm Learning—a decentralized machine-learning approach that unites edge computing, blockchain-based peer-to-peer networking and coordination while maintaining confidentiality without the need for a central coordinator, thereby going beyond federated learning. To illustrate the feasibility of using Swarm Learning to develop disease classifiers using distributed data, we chose four use cases of heterogeneous diseases (COVID-19, tuberculosis, leukaemia and lung pathologies). With more than 16,400 blood transcriptomes derived from 127 clinical studies with non-uniform distributions of cases and controls and substantial study biases, as well as more than 95,000 chest X-ray images, we show that Swarm Learning classifiers outperform those developed at individual sites. In addition, Swarm Learning completely fulfils local confidentiality regulations by design. We believe that this approach will notably accelerate the introduction of precision medicine. Swarm Learning is a decentralized machine learning approach that outperforms classifiers developed at individual sites for COVID-19 and other diseases while preserving confidentiality and privacy.
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Vanshylla K, Di Cristanziano V, Kleipass F, Dewald F, Schommers P, Gieselmann L, Gruell H, Schlotz M, Ercanoglu MS, Stumpf R, Mayer P, Zehner M, Heger E, Johannis W, Horn C, Suárez I, Jung N, Salomon S, Eberhardt KA, Gathof B, Fätkenheuer G, Pfeifer N, Eggeling R, Augustin M, Lehmann C, Klein F. Kinetics and correlates of the neutralizing antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:917-929.e4. [PMID: 33984285 PMCID: PMC8090990 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding antibody-based SARS-CoV-2 immunity is critical for overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and informing vaccination strategies. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics over 10 months in 963 individuals who predominantly experienced mild COVID-19. Investigating 2,146 samples, we initially detected SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 94.4% of individuals, with 82% and 79% exhibiting serum and IgG neutralization, respectively. Approximately 3% of individuals demonstrated exceptional SARS-CoV-2 neutralization, with these “elite neutralizers” also possessing SARS-CoV-1 cross-neutralizing IgG. Multivariate statistical modeling revealed age, symptomatic infection, disease severity, and gender as key factors predicting SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing activity. A loss of reactivity to the virus spike protein was observed in 13% of individuals 10 months after infection. Neutralizing activity had half-lives of 14.7 weeks in serum versus 31.4 weeks in purified IgG, indicating a rather long-term IgG antibody response. Our results demonstrate a broad spectrum in the initial SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibody response, with sustained antibodies in most individuals for 10 months after mild COVID-19.
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Luers JC, Rokohl AC, Loreck N, Wawer Matos PA, Augustin M, Dewald F, Klein F, Lehmann C, Heindl LM. Reply to Gourtsoyannis. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 71:3018-3019. [PMID: 32474607 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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Dela Cruz M, Littmann E, Nayak R, Lehmann C, Keskey R, Baker T, Lin H, Bennett A, Kim G, Pinney S, Pamer E, Nguyen A. The Gut Microbiome in Heart Transplantation: A Prospective Pilot Study. J Heart Lung Transplant 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2021.01.1797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Eberhardt KA, Dewald F, Heger E, Gieselmann L, Vanshylla K, Wirtz M, Kleipass F, Johannis W, Schommers P, Gruell H, Brensing KA, Müller RU, Augustin M, Lehmann C, Koch M, Klein F, Di Cristanziano V. Evaluation of a New Spike (S)-Protein-Based Commercial Immunoassay for the Detection of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. Microorganisms 2021; 9:733. [PMID: 33807490 PMCID: PMC8067155 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The investigation of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 represents a key aspect in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. In the present study, we compared the new Immundiagnostik IDK® anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG assay with four widely-used commercial serological assays for the detection of antibodies targeting S (spike) and NC (nucleocapsid) proteins. Methods: Serum samples were taken from an unbiased group of convalescent patients and from a negative control group. Sample were simultaneously analyzed by the new Immundiagnostik IDK® anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG assay, by the DiaSorin LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG assay, and by the Euroimmun anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG ELISA. Antibodies binding NC were detected by the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay and by the pan-immunoglobulin immunoassay Roche Elecsys® anti-SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we investigated samples of a group of COVID-19 convalescent subjects that were primarily tested S1 IgG non-reactive. Samples were also tested by live virus and pseudovirus neutralization tests. Results: Overall, the IDK® anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG assay showed the highest sensitivity among the evaluated spike (S) protein-based assays. Additionally, the Immundiagnostik assay correlated well with serum-neutralizing activity. Conclusions: The novel IDK® anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG assay showed high sensitivity and specificity, representing a valid option for use in the routine diagnostic.
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