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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What immune cell features are most predictive of COVID outcomes? @mkuchroo@JcsHuang Patrick Wong et al used ML algorithm Multiscale PHATE to assign each immune cell type in COVID patients a mortality-likelihood score. Latest from @KrishnaswamyLab 💪🏼 (1/) go.nature.com/3K0QCqi
Based on the flow cytometry data on 54 million cells from COVID 168 patients, the low density granulocytes (neutrophils and eosinophils) were the most enriched cell types in patients who had fatal COVID, followed by inflammatory monocytes and certain B cell subsets. (2/)
In contrast, T cells (most of them; see below), NK cells and dendritic cells were associated with the lowest mortality likelihood scores. They are likely protecting the host from lethal disease. (3/)
“COVID toes” are swollen discolored toes (and fingers) that were seen in areas with high incidence of COVID-19, but the cause is unknown. This new study by @JeffGehlhausen et al shows lack of association between covid toes and SARS-CoV-2 infection. 🧵(1/)
We enrolled 23 pandemic chilblains (PC) patients. While there is an association with community COVID cases (blue line) and PC (red bars), only 2 PC patients had evidence of infection by PCR or antibodies. We wondered if people may have missed the time window for testing +ve. (2/)
PCR testing was difficult to access at the time of initial wave (2020). Thus, we employed two distinct measures of antibodies - ELISA and @serimmune SERA assays - against SARS-CoV-2 S, RBD and N. Only 2 of the 23 patients (who were also PCR +ve) had consistent antiviral Abs. (3/)
Vaccines that reduce infection & disease are needed to combat the pandemic. Here, @tianyangmao@BenIsraelow et al. describe our new mucosal booster strategy, Prime and Spike, to induce such immunity via nasal delivery of unadjuvanted spike vaccine 🧵 (1/)
Current COVID vaccines are given intramuscularly. This induces robust circulating antibodies and systemic T & B cell responses that block viral spread and disease. However, to better block infection, immunity has to be established at mucosal surfaces. (2/) annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/an…
To elicit mucosal immunity from scratch, live attenuated vaccines are often necessary, due to the need to introduce sufficient antigen and innate immune signals needed for priming via mucosal surfaces. Live vaccines are not safe for immunocompromised. (3/) nature.com/articles/s4157…
So excited to be a part of this important study led by @michelle_monje on how significant longterm neurologic damage can occur after a mild respiratory-only SARS-CoV-2 infection. My own🧵on the findings of this study with relevance to #longCovid (1/)
How can a mild respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection lead to longterm neurological symptoms? Possibilities include 1) direct infection of 🧠, 2) autoimmunity, and 3) inflammatory impact of infection distal to the 🧠. In this study, we focused on 3) 👇🏽 (2/)
To achieve this goal, @peowenlu & @ericsongg used a mouse model developed by @BenIsraelow & @ericsongg in which we can control where the infection happens. Using AAV-hACE2 intratracheally, we can confine the SARS-CoV-2 infection only to the lungs. (3/)
CoronaVac is an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine approved for use in 48 countries. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Dominican Republic, we tested whether CoronaVac (2x) + Pfizer booster induces neutralizing Abs to Delta and Omicron. (1/)
We analyzed plasma samples from 101 participants in Dominican Republic (DR) who received the BNT162b2 booster >4 weeks after the 2x of CoronaVac. We compared them to samples from people at Yale who received 2x of BNT162b2.
⬆️ ⬆️ Ab induced by heterologous prime & boost.(2/)
Next, @carolilucas & @ValterVSM analyzed NAb against ancestral vs. Delta variant. CoronaVac 2x followed by Pfizer mRNA vax booster robustly elevated NAb against both virus types, level similar to 2x Pfizer vaccine. (3/)
This thread is about our new preprint on transposable element called long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1/L1). When expressed excessively in the cerebellum, L1 causes ataxia (impaired coordination).
Human genome is occupied in large part by transposable elements or jumping genes. LINE-1 occupies ~20% of our genome, compared to only 1.1% by exons. Some evolutionarily young LINE-1 are still active and are a rare cause of genetic diseases. (2/)
In addition, L1 may even promote the process of aging & age-related diseases in humans. Until recently, research focused on their activity in the germline. Now, their activity in somatic tissues during a lifespan is being studied. Fascinating review👇🏽(3/) nature.com/articles/s4158…