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Leitão IDC, Calil PT, Galliez RM, Moreira FRR, Mariani D, Castiñeiras ACP, da Silva GPD, Maia RA, Corrêa IA, Monteiro FLL, de Souza MRM, Gonçalves CCA, Higa LM, de Jesus Ribeiro L, Fonseca VWP, Bastos VC, Voloch CM, Faffe DS, da Costa Ferreira O, Tanuri A, Castiñeiras TMPP, da Costa LJ. Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 Positivity in Immunocompetent Patients: Virus Isolation, Genomic Integrity, and Transmission Risk. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0085521. [PMID: 34787498 PMCID: PMC8597635 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00855-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Current guidelines for patient isolation in COVID-19 cases recommend a symptom-based approach, averting the use of control real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) testing. However, we hypothesized that patients with persistently positive results by RT-PCR for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could be potentially infectious for a prolonged time, even if immunocompetent and asymptomatic, which would demand a longer social isolation period than presently recommended. To test this hypothesis, 72 samples from 51 mildly symptomatic immunocompetent patients with long-lasting positive rRT-PCR results for SARS-CoV-2 were tested for their infectiousness in cell culture. The serological response of samples from those patients and virus genomic integrity were also analyzed. Infectious viruses were successfully isolated from 34.38% (22/64) of nasopharynx samples obtained 14 days or longer after symptom onset. Indeed, we observed successful virus isolation up to 128 days. Complete SARS-COV-2 genome integrity was demonstrated, suggesting the presence of replication-competent viruses. No correlation was found between the isolation of infectious viruses and rRT-PCR cycle threshold values or the humoral immune response. These findings call attention to the need to review current isolation guidelines, particularly in scenarios involving high-risk individuals. IMPORTANCE In this study, we evaluated mildly symptomatic immunocompetent patients with long-lasting positive rRT-PCR results for SARS-CoV-2. Infectious viruses were successfully isolated in cell cultures from nasopharynx samples obtained 14 days or longer after symptom onset. Indeed, we observed successful virus isolation for up to 128 days. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 genome integrity was demonstrated by sequencing, suggesting the presence of replication-competent viruses. These data point out the risk of continuous SARS-CoV-2 transmission from patients with prolonged detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract, which has important implications for current precaution guidelines, particularly in settings where vulnerable individuals may be exposed (e.g., nursing homes and hospitals).
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela de Carvalho Leitão
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Pedro Telles Calil
- Laboratório de Genética e Imunologia das Infecções Virais, Departamento de Virologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Rafael Mello Galliez
- Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Filipe Romero Rebello Moreira
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Diana Mariani
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Gustavo Peixoto Duarte da Silva
- Laboratório de Genética e Imunologia das Infecções Virais, Departamento de Virologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Richard Araújo Maia
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Isadora Alonso Corrêa
- Laboratório de Genética e Imunologia das Infecções Virais, Departamento de Virologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Fábio Luís Lima Monteiro
- Laboratório de Genética e Imunologia das Infecções Virais, Departamento de Virologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Marcos Romário Matos de Souza
- Laboratório de Genética e Imunologia das Infecções Virais, Departamento de Virologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Luiza Mendonça Higa
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Liane de Jesus Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Victoria Cortes Bastos
- Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Carolina Moreira Voloch
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Débora Souza Faffe
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Orlando da Costa Ferreira
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Amilcar Tanuri
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Luciana Jesus da Costa
- Laboratório de Genética e Imunologia das Infecções Virais, Departamento de Virologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
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Gomes RM, Preza PA, Bastos VC, Coelho MG, Kovary K, de Castro Faria H. [Growth control of experimental tumour. I. Host protection against tumour by previous inoculation of plasmatic membrane of tumour cell (author's transl)]. Rev Bras Pesqui Med Biol 1978; 11:229-35. [PMID: 725135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Proteins from plasmatic membrane of ascites and solid 20-methylcholantrene induced tumours cells in inbred mice and rats were obtained by isolation of vesicles of tumor cell membranes produced in glycerol solution. The tumour cells were not broken. In a syngeneic system the inoculation of the prepared protein with adjuvant resulted in protection of 50 to 100% of animals against challenge with a syngeneic tumour cells. The same results were obtained with Ehrlich ascites tumour. The lymphocyte cytotoxicity and blastic transformation of lymphocytes in immunized animals suggested a cellular cytotoxic immunity mediated by tumour specific antigen or perhaps by fetal antigen.
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