This new preprint by Stadler et al. integrated data from 37 randomized controlled trials to ask how the timing and dose of passive antibodies (monoclonal Ab & convalescent plasma) predict protection from SARS-CoV-2 disease. A short 🧵 (1/)
Timing: the study found that the earlier the patients were treated with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) or convalescent plasma (CP), the more effective the passive antibodies were in preventing the clinical outcome measured (indicated by right end of line). #TheEarlierTheBetter (2/)
These data are reminiscent of endogenously induced antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2. In patients with fatal COVID, the onset of antiviral antibodies was significantly delayed compared to those who survived COVID. @carolilucas@sneakyvirus1 (3/)
If you break down the data by trial types & mAbs, the pre-exposure injection had the highest efficacy, followed by peri-exposure and later symptomatic stages. mAb use in hospitalized patients provided only limited to no benefits. (4/)
Does the dose of passive antibody matter? This curve shows ‘convalescent equivalent’ of different administered doses of mAb and CP in preventing progression from symptomatic disease to hospitalization. Interesting to note that less is bad but more is not always better. (5/)
Above data are for ancestral virus. What about Omicron BA.1 and BA.2? Data in this table predict that these mAbs except sotrovimab (green) would fail to neutralize BA.1. Notably, against BA.2, imdevimab at 4000mg dose is predicted to provide 60% protection (yellow).(6/)
Whether these mAbs provide protection against BA.2 in real world requires clinical studies. However, this type of prediction is very useful in designing clinical trials (timing and dosing) that are most likely to provide benefit to patients. (7/)
To this end, another preprint found that sera of patients receiving Ronapreve (Casirivimab + Imdevimab) and/or Evusheld (Cilgavimab + Tixagevimab) as pre-exposure prophylaxis have some levels of neutralization against BA.2. (8/)
FDA authorized a monoclonal antibody, bebtelovimab, that can work against BA.2 based on lab data. This is great but we need more mAbs that retain neutralizing activities against this and future variants, esp for immunocompromised patients. (9/)
Paxlovid is great but is contraindicated in patients taking drugs that are highly dependent on CYP3A for clearance. This is because Paxlovid contains ritonavir that inhibits the CYP3A-mediated metabolism of nirmatrelvir (SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor), but also the following👇🏽(10/)
There are many other cool data in this preprint. I only highlighted a couple of them but for those interested, please read the original paper for more insights. Congratulations and thanks to the authors of this important study 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 (end)
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Introducing BEACON (Bioactive Enhanced Adjuvant Chemokine Oligonucleotide Nanoparticles) to stimulate mucosal immune responses against genital #HSV infection. Awesome work led by @sachinbhag, who designed and developed BEACON to guide T and B cells (1/) biorxiv.org/content/10.110…
The BEACON nanoparticle is composed of CpG ODN (TLR9 agonist) and CXCL9 (chemokine). When applied to the vaginal mucosa, the recruitment of antiviral T cells is achieved with minimal local inflammation - much more potent than CpG or CXCL9 separately. (2/)
Intramuscular vaccines do not promote mucosal immunity. BEACON can be used as a local adjuvant to boost HSV-2 gD- or gB-specific T and B cells, preventing not only disease/death but also blocking viral load in both vaginal tissue and dorsal root ganglia (🚫latency)(3/)👇🏼
A fascinating new study by Vishnu Shankar et al. @stanfordimmuno shows that oxidative stress is a shared characteristic of ME/CFS and Long COVID in lymphocytes due to inability to clear reactive oxygen species. This happens in sex-specific manner. (1/) pnas.org/doi/abs/10.107…
Females show higher mtROS levels and insufficient antioxidant levels, while males show mitochondrial lipid oxidative damage. While the reason for this is unclear, it may explain the sex differences in lymphocyte dysfunction we see in PAIS in general. (2/) science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…
ROS-targeting therapies were tested. Metformin treatment in vitro showed some impact on CD4 T cell proliferation. I suspect that other therapies to induce autophagy/mitophagy might also benefit restoration of T cell phenotype. #LowDoseRapamycin 👇🏼 (3/) polybio.org/projects/long-…
Published today! Victoria Bastos, @KerrieGreene_ et al found two distinct immunotypes of ME/CFS based on the cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Great collaboration with @MBVanElzakker @microbeminded2 and the Bragée clinic in Sweden. (1/) academic.oup.com/jimmunol/artic…
This is perfect timing as Victoria will present these data at the @polybioRF symposium today. (2/)
Based on cerebrospinal fluid cytokines, we identified two clusters of ME/CFS patients. Cluster 1 had elevated matrix metalloproteinases & many cytokines compared to cluster 2. Other than older age (Cluster 1), clinical presentation of these clusters was similar. (3/)
Published today📣
Our nasal booster in the "Prime & Spike" vaccine works without adjuvants (which are needed to induce adaptive immunity but also cause inflammation). @Kwon_Dongil @tianyangmao @BenIsraelow et al. asked how this is possible. (1/) nature.com/articles/s4159…
Prime & Spike is a vaccine strategy that leverages preexisting immunity primed by conventional vaccines to elicit mucosal IgA and T cell responses that prevent COVID infection and transmission in rodents. The nasal booster is simply the spike protein (2/) science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…
Our new study shows that the nasal spike protein booster converts lymph node memory B cells into IgA-secreting cells in the lung with the help of memory CD4 T cells. Ag-specific CD4 T cells replace all the necessary functions of adjuvants without nonspecific inflammation! (3/)
This prospective observational study led by @connorbgrady @bornali_27 @SilvaJ_C @hmkyale examined the impact of the primary COVID-19 vaccination on the symptoms and immune signatures of 16 people with #longCOVID. Here is what we found 👇🏼 (1/)
This study asked: Does COVID vaccination improve symptoms of long COVID? If so, is the improvement due to robust T and B cell responses leading to the clearance of the viral reservoir? If not, is there an immune feature that predicts worsening of LC? (2/)
The self-reported impact of vaccination was variable. Of the 16 long COVID patients, 10 felt better, 3 had no change, and 3 had worse health (1 hospitalized) 12 weeks after vaccination. Both physical and social effects of symptom burden appeared to decrease after vaccination. (3/)
Our preprint on post-vaccination syndrome is out. We studied immune signatures and examined spike protein in the blood of people who have developed chronic illnesses after COVID-19 vaccination. (1/) medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
Vaccines have saved countless lives and inspired me to become an immunologist. While generally safe, some people experience adverse effects, including Post-Vaccination Syndrome (PVS). Studying PVS is crucial for improving patient care and enhancing vaccine safety & acceptance. (2/) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37986769/