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Knickmann J, Staliunaite L, Puhach O, Ostermann E, Günther T, Nichols J, Jarvis MA, Voigt S, Grundhoff A, Davison AJ, Brune W. A simple method for rapid cloning of complete herpesvirus genomes. Cell Rep Methods 2024; 4:100696. [PMID: 38266652 PMCID: PMC10921015 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Herpesviruses are large DNA viruses and include important human and veterinary pathogens. Their genomes can be cloned as bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) and genetically engineered in Escherichia coli using BAC recombineering methods. While the recombineering methods are efficient, the initial BAC-cloning step remains laborious. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a simple, rapid, and efficient BAC-cloning method based on single-step transformation-associated recombination (STAR) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The linear viral genome is directly integrated into a vector comprising a yeast centromeric plasmid and a BAC replicon. Following transfer into E. coli, the viral genome can be modified using standard BAC recombineering techniques. We demonstrate the speed, fidelity, and broad applicability of STAR by cloning two strains of both rat cytomegalovirus (a betaherpesvirus) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (a gammaherpesvirus). STAR cloning facilitates the functional genetic analysis of herpesviruses and other large DNA viruses and their use as vaccines and therapeutic vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Knickmann
- Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Olha Puhach
- Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Jenna Nichols
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Michael A Jarvis
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK; The Vaccine Group Ltd., Plymouth, UK
| | - Sebastian Voigt
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Andrew J Davison
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Wolfram Brune
- Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg, Germany.
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2
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Puhach O, Bellon M, Adea K, Bekliz M, Hosszu-Fellous K, Sattonnet P, Hulo N, Kaiser L, Eckerle I, Meyer B. SARS-CoV-2 convalescence and hybrid immunity elicits mucosal immune responses. EBioMedicine 2023; 98:104893. [PMID: 38035462 PMCID: PMC10755109 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mucosal antibodies play a key role in the protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the upper respiratory tract, and potentially in limiting virus replication and therefore onward transmission. While systemic immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is well understood, we have a limited understanding about the antibodies present on the nasal mucosal surfaces. METHODS In this study, we evaluated SARS-CoV-2 mucosal antibodies following previous infection, vaccination, or a combination of both. Paired nasal fluid and serum samples were collected from 143 individuals, which include convalescent, vaccinated, or breakthrough infections. FINDINGS We detected a high correlation between IgG responses in serum and nasal fluids, which were higher in both compartments in vaccinated compared to convalescent participants. Contrary, nasal and systemic SARS-CoV-2 IgA responses were weakly correlated, indicating a compartmentalization between the local and systemic IgA responses. SARS-CoV-2 secretory component IgA (s-IgA) antibodies, present exclusively on mucosal surfaces, were detected in the nasal fluid only in a minority of vaccinated subjects and were significantly higher in previously infected individuals. Depletion of IgA antibodies in nasal fluids resulted in a tremendous reduction of neutralization activity against SARS-CoV-2, indicating that IgA is the crucial contributor to neutralization in the nasal mucosa. Neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 was higher in the mucosa of subjects with previous SARS-CoV-2 infections compared to vaccinated participants. INTERPRETATION In summary, we demonstrate that currently available vaccines elicit strong systemic antibody responses, but SARS-CoV-2 infection generates higher titers of binding and neutralizing mucosal antibodies. Our results support the importance to develop SARS-CoV-2 vaccines that elicit mucosal antibodies. FUNDING The work was funded by the COVID-19 National Research Program 78 (grant number 198412) of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olha Puhach
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathilde Bellon
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth Adea
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Meriem Bekliz
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Krisztina Hosszu-Fellous
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pascale Sattonnet
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Hulo
- Service for Biomathematical and Biostatistical Analyses, Institute of Genetics and Genomics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kaiser
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isabella Eckerle
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Centre of Vaccinology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 viral load and detection of infectious virus in the respiratory tract are the two key parameters for estimating infectiousness. As shedding of infectious virus is required for onward transmission, understanding shedding characteristics is relevant for public health interventions. Viral shedding is influenced by biological characteristics of the virus, host factors and pre-existing immunity (previous infection or vaccination) of the infected individual. Although the process of human-to-human transmission is multifactorial, viral load substantially contributed to human-to-human transmission, with higher viral load posing a greater risk for onward transmission. Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern have further complicated the picture of virus shedding. As underlying immunity in the population through previous infection, vaccination or a combination of both has rapidly increased on a global scale after almost 3 years of the pandemic, viral shedding patterns have become more distinct from those of ancestral SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the factors and mechanisms that influence infectious virus shedding and the period during which individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 are contagious is crucial to guide public health measures and limit transmission. Furthermore, diagnostic tools to demonstrate the presence of infectious virus from routine diagnostic specimens are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olha Puhach
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isabella Eckerle
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
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4
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Michielin G, Arefi F, Puhach O, Bellon M, Sattonnet-Roche P, L'Huillier AG, Eckerle I, Meyer B, Maerkl SJ. Clinical sensitivity and specificity of a high-throughput microfluidic nano-immunoassay combined with capillary blood microsampling for the identification of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG serostatus. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283149. [PMID: 36952463 PMCID: PMC10035827 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We evaluate the diagnostic performance of dried blood microsampling combined with a high-throughput microfluidic nano-immunoassay (NIA) for the identification of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG seropositivity. METHODS We conducted a serological study among 192 individuals with documented prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and 44 SARS-CoV-2 negative individuals. Participants with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection had a long interval of 11 months since their qRT-PCR positive test. Serum was obtained after venipuncture and tested with an automated electrochemiluminescence anti-SARS-CoV-2 S total Ig reference assay, a commercial ELISA anti-S1 IgG assay, and the index test NIA. In addition, 109 participants from the positive cohort and 44 participants from the negative cohort participated in capillary blood collection using three microsampling devices: Mitra, repurposed glucose test strips, and HemaXis. Samples were dried, shipped by regular mail, extracted, and measured with NIA. RESULTS Using serum samples, we achieve a clinical sensitivity of 98·33% and specificity of 97·62% on NIA, affirming the high performance of NIA in participants 11 months post infection. Combining microsampling with NIA, we obtain a clinical sensitivity of 95·05% using Mitra, 61·11% using glucose test strips, 83·16% using HemaXis, and 91·49% for HemaXis after automated extraction, without any drop in specificity. DISCUSSION High sensitivity and specificity was demonstrated when testing micro-volume capillary dried blood samples using NIA, which is expected to facilitate its use in large-scale studies using home-based sampling or samples collected in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire Michielin
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fatemeh Arefi
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olha Puhach
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathilde Bellon
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pascale Sattonnet-Roche
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud G L'Huillier
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Woman, Child and Adolescent Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isabella Eckerle
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals & Faculty of Medicine, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian J Maerkl
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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5
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Essaidi-Laziosi M, Alvarez C, Puhach O, Sattonnet-Roche P, Torriani G, Tapparel C, Kaiser L, Eckerle I. Sequential infections with rhinovirus and influenza modulate the replicative capacity of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:412-423. [PMID: 34931581 PMCID: PMC8803056 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.2021806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Although frequently reported since the beginning of the pandemic, questions remain regarding the impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) interaction with circulating respiratory viruses in coinfected patients. We here investigated dual infections involving early-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 and the Alpha variant and three of the most prevalent respiratory viruses, rhinovirus (RV) and Influenza A and B viruses (IAV and IBV), in reconstituted respiratory airway epithelial cells cultured at air-liquid interface. We found that SARS-CoV-2 replication was impaired by primary, but not secondary, rhino- and influenza virus infection. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 had no effect on the replication of these seasonal respiratory viruses. Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 correlated better with immune response triggered by RV, IAV and IBV than the virus entry. Using neutralizing antibody against type I and III interferons, SARS-CoV-2 blockade in dual infections could be partly prevented. Altogether, these data suggested that SARS-CoV-2 interaction with seasonal respiratory viruses would be modulated by interferon induction and could impact SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology when circulation of other respiratory viruses is restored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manel Essaidi-Laziosi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Catia Alvarez
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olha Puhach
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pascale Sattonnet-Roche
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Torriani
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Tapparel
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kaiser
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isabella Eckerle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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6
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Bekliz M, Adea K, Puhach O, Perez-Rodriguez F, Marques Melancia S, Baggio S, Corvaglia AR, Jacquerioz F, Alvarez C, Essaidi-Laziosi M, Escadafal C, Kaiser L, Eckerle I. Analytical Sensitivity of Eight Different SARS-CoV-2 Antigen-Detecting Rapid Tests for Omicron-BA.1 Variant. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0085322. [PMID: 35938792 PMCID: PMC9430749 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00853-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of each novel SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) requires investigation of its potential impact on the performance of diagnostic tests in use, including antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs). Although anecdotal reports have been circulating that the newly emerged Omicron-BA.1 variant is in principle detectable by Ag-RDTs, few data on sensitivity are available. We have performed (i) analytical sensitivity testing with cultured virus in eight Ag-RDTs and (ii) retrospective testing in duplicates with clinical samples from vaccinated individuals with Omicron-BA.1 (n = 59) or Delta (n = 54) breakthrough infection on seven Ag-RDTs. Overall, in our analytical study we have found heterogenicity between Ag-RDTs for detecting Omicron-BA.1. When using cultured virus, we observed a trend toward lower endpoint sensitivity for Omicron-BA.1 detection than for earlier circulating SARS-CoV-2 and the other VOCs. In our retrospective study, the detection of Delta and Omicron-BA.1 was assessed in a comparable set of stored clinical samples using seven Ag-RDTs. Four hundred ninety-seven of all 826 tests (60.17%) performed on Omicron-BA.1 samples were positive, compared to 489/756 (64.68%) for Delta samples. In the analytical study, the sensitivity for both Omicron-BA.1 and Delta between the Ag-RDTs was variable. All seven Ag-RDTs showed comparable sensitivities to detect Omicron-BA.1 and Delta in the retrospective study. IMPORTANCE Sensitivity for detecting Omicron-BA.1 shows high heterogenicity between Ag-RDTs, necessitating a careful consideration when using these tests to guide infection prevention measures. Analytical and retrospective testing is a proxy and timely solution to generate rapid performance data, but it is not a replacement for clinical evaluations, which are urgently needed. Biological and technical reasons for detection failure by some Ag-RDTs need to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem Bekliz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth Adea
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olha Puhach
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Francisco Perez-Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stéfane Marques Melancia
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Baggio
- Division of Prison Health, Geneva University Hospitals & University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anna-Rita Corvaglia
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frederique Jacquerioz
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Primary Care Division, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Catia Alvarez
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Manel Essaidi-Laziosi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Laurent Kaiser
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isabella Eckerle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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7
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Bekliz M, Adea K, Vetter P, Eberhardt CS, Hosszu-Fellous K, Vu DL, Puhach O, Essaidi-Laziosi M, Waldvogel-Abramowski S, Stephan C, L'Huillier AG, Siegrist CA, Didierlaurent AM, Kaiser L, Meyer B, Eckerle I. Neutralization capacity of antibodies elicited through homologous or heterologous infection or vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3840. [PMID: 35787633 PMCID: PMC9253337 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31556-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants raise questions about escape from previous immunity. As the population immunity to SARS-CoV-2 has become more complex due to prior infections with different variants, vaccinations or the combination of both, understanding the antigenic relationship between variants is needed. Here, we have assessed neutralizing capacity of 120 blood specimens from convalescent individuals infected with ancestral SARS-CoV-2, Alpha, Beta, Gamma or Delta, double vaccinated individuals and patients after breakthrough infections with Delta or Omicron-BA.1. Neutralization against seven authentic SARS-CoV-2 isolates (B.1, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Zeta and Omicron-BA.1) determined by plaque-reduction neutralization assay allowed us to map the antigenic relationship of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Highest neutralization titers were observed against the homologous variant. Antigenic cartography identified Zeta and Omicron-BA.1 as separate antigenic clusters. Substantial immune escape in vaccinated individuals was detected for Omicron-BA.1 but not Zeta. Combined infection/vaccination derived immunity results in less Omicron-BA.1 immune escape. Last, breakthrough infections with Omicron-BA.1 lead to broadly neutralizing sera. Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants raise concerns on protective immunity. Here the authors show that convalescent sera from people infected with Alpha, Beta, Gamma or Delta show a significant drop of Omicron-BA.1 neutralization and that vaccine-breakthrough infections with Omicron-BA.1 or Delta result in robust neutralization for both Delta and Omicron-BA.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem Bekliz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth Adea
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pauline Vetter
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christiane S Eberhardt
- Center for Vaccinology and Neonatal Immunology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Woman, Child and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Center for Vaccinology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Krisztina Hosszu-Fellous
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Diem-Lan Vu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olha Puhach
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Manel Essaidi-Laziosi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Caroline Stephan
- Transfusion Unit, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud G L'Huillier
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Women, Child and Adolescent Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Claire-Anne Siegrist
- Center for Vaccinology and Neonatal Immunology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud M Didierlaurent
- Center for Vaccinology and Neonatal Immunology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kaiser
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Center for Vaccinology and Neonatal Immunology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Isabella Eckerle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. .,Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. .,Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
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8
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Puhach O, Adea K, Hulo N, Sattonnet P, Genecand C, Iten A, Jacquérioz F, Kaiser L, Vetter P, Eckerle I, Meyer B. Infectious viral load in unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals infected with ancestral, Delta or Omicron SARS-CoV-2. Nat Med 2022. [PMID: 35395151 DOI: 10.1101/2022.01.10.22269010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Infectious viral load (VL) expelled as droplets and aerosols by infected individuals partly determines transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). RNA VL measured by qRT-PCR is only a weak proxy for infectiousness. Studies on the kinetics of infectious VL are important to understand the mechanisms behind the different transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants and the effect of vaccination on transmission, which allows guidance of public health measures. In this study, we quantified infectious VL in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first five symptomatic days by in vitro culturability assay in unvaccinated or vaccinated individuals infected with pre-variant of concern (pre-VOC) SARS-CoV-2, Delta or Omicron BA.1. Unvaccinated individuals infected with pre-VOC SARS-CoV-2 had lower infectious VL than Delta-infected unvaccinated individuals. Full vaccination (defined as >2 weeks after receipt of the second dose during the primary vaccination series) significantly reduced infectious VL for Delta breakthrough cases compared to unvaccinated individuals. For Omicron BA.1 breakthrough cases, reduced infectious VL was observed only in boosted but not in fully vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated individuals. In addition, infectious VL was lower in fully vaccinated Omicron BA.1-infected individuals compared to fully vaccinated Delta-infected individuals, suggesting that mechanisms other than increased infectious VL contribute to the high infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1. Our findings indicate that vaccines may lower transmission risk and, therefore, have a public health benefit beyond the individual protection from severe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olha Puhach
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth Adea
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Hulo
- Service for Biomathematical and Biostatistical Analyses, Institute of Genetics and Genomics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pascale Sattonnet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Camille Genecand
- Cantonal Health Service, General Directorate for Health, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anne Iten
- Service of Prevention and Infection Control, Directorate of Medicine and Quality, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frédérique Jacquérioz
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Primary Care Division, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kaiser
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals & Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pauline Vetter
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals & Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Isabella Eckerle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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9
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Puhach O, Adea K, Hulo N, Sattonnet P, Genecand C, Iten A, Jacquérioz F, Kaiser L, Vetter P, Eckerle I, Meyer B. Infectious viral load in unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals infected with ancestral, Delta or Omicron SARS-CoV-2. Nat Med 2022. [PMID: 35395151 DOI: 10.1101/2022.01.10.22269010v2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Infectious viral load (VL) expelled as droplets and aerosols by infected individuals partly determines transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). RNA VL measured by qRT-PCR is only a weak proxy for infectiousness. Studies on the kinetics of infectious VL are important to understand the mechanisms behind the different transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants and the effect of vaccination on transmission, which allows guidance of public health measures. In this study, we quantified infectious VL in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first five symptomatic days by in vitro culturability assay in unvaccinated or vaccinated individuals infected with pre-variant of concern (pre-VOC) SARS-CoV-2, Delta or Omicron BA.1. Unvaccinated individuals infected with pre-VOC SARS-CoV-2 had lower infectious VL than Delta-infected unvaccinated individuals. Full vaccination (defined as >2 weeks after receipt of the second dose during the primary vaccination series) significantly reduced infectious VL for Delta breakthrough cases compared to unvaccinated individuals. For Omicron BA.1 breakthrough cases, reduced infectious VL was observed only in boosted but not in fully vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated individuals. In addition, infectious VL was lower in fully vaccinated Omicron BA.1-infected individuals compared to fully vaccinated Delta-infected individuals, suggesting that mechanisms other than increased infectious VL contribute to the high infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1. Our findings indicate that vaccines may lower transmission risk and, therefore, have a public health benefit beyond the individual protection from severe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olha Puhach
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth Adea
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Hulo
- Service for Biomathematical and Biostatistical Analyses, Institute of Genetics and Genomics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pascale Sattonnet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Camille Genecand
- Cantonal Health Service, General Directorate for Health, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anne Iten
- Service of Prevention and Infection Control, Directorate of Medicine and Quality, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frédérique Jacquérioz
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Primary Care Division, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kaiser
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals & Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pauline Vetter
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals & Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Isabella Eckerle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Puhach O, Adea K, Hulo N, Sattonnet P, Genecand C, Iten A, Bausch FJ, Kaiser L, Vetter P, Eckerle I, Meyer B. Infectious viral load in unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals infected with ancestral, Delta or Omicron SARS-CoV-2. Nat Med 2022; 28:1491-1500. [PMID: 35395151 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-01816-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 78.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Infectious viral load (VL) expelled as droplets and aerosols by infected individuals partly determines SARS-CoV-2 transmission. RNA VL measured by qRT-PCR is only a weak proxy for infectiousness. Studies on the kinetics of infectious VL are important to understand the mechanisms behind the different transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants and the effect of vaccination on transmission, which allows to guide public health measures. In this study we quantified infectious VL in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals during the first 5 symptomatic days by in vitro culturability assay in unvaccinated or vaccinated individuals infected with pre-variant of concern (pre-VOC) SARS-CoV-2, Delta, or Omicron. Unvaccinated individuals infected with pre-VOC SARS-CoV-2 had lower infectious VL compared to Delta-infected unvaccinated individuals. Full vaccination (defined as >2weeks after reception of 2nd dose during primary vaccination series) significantly reduced infectious VL for Delta breakthrough cases compared to unvaccinated individuals. For Omicron breakthrough cases, reduced infectious VL was only observed in boosted but not in fully vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated subjects. In addition, infectious VL was lower in fully vaccinated Omicron- compared to fully vaccinated Delta-infected individuals, suggesting that other mechanisms than increased infectious VL contribute to the high infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron. Our findings indicate that vaccines may lower transmission risk and therefore have a public health benefit beyond the individual protection from severe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olha Puhach
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth Adea
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Hulo
- Service for Biomathematical and Biostatistical Analyses, Institute of Genetics and Genomics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pascale Sattonnet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Camille Genecand
- Cantonal Health Service, General Directorate for Health, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anne Iten
- Service of Prevention and Infection Control, Directorate of Medicine and Quality, University Hospital Geneva, HUG, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frédérique Jacquérioz Bausch
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Primary Care Division, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kaiser
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Laboratory of Virology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals & Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pauline Vetter
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. .,Laboratory of Virology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals & Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. .,Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Isabella Eckerle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. .,Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. .,Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Centre for Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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