Volume 223, Issue 5, 1 March 2021

Analyses of neutralizing capacity of COVID-19 convalescent plasma repeat donors reveal a significant decrease in neutralizing antibodies within 4 months of the initial donation. Performance of the only US Food and Drug Administration–approved assay for qualifying COVID-19 convalescent plasma supports revised cutoff criteria.

By analyzing tissues from patients with fatal COVID-19, using in situ hybridization and RT-PCR, we identified cellular targets of SARS-CoV-2 tropism and replication in the lungs, airways, and vascular endothelium. These findings provide important insights into COVID-19 pathogenesis and severe outcomes.

A new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) wave may occur in fall/winter 2020 when the competitive influenza driver will be largely present. We report the development of a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza viruses.

Specific upregulation in coronavirus disease 2019 warrants further evaluation of progranulin as a potential biomarker and its impact on interferon signaling, virus elimination, and virus-induced lung tissue damage.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 exhibited angiotensin converting enzyme 2 dependent abortive infection of human myeloid cells. The infection induced expression of antiviral and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which ultimately resulted in type I interferon-mediated cell death of human macrophages.

Four broadly used serological testing platforms for detecting antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were evaluated regarding their suitability for screening healthcare staff, potential convalescent plasma donors, and others with mild to moderate courses of coronavirus disease 2019.

As the D614G spike variant emerged as the main severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variant in the United States, concerns arose regarding possible differences in antibody binding and serologic assay performance. We show that antibodies cross-react with both variants.

Individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 display increased inflammation and monocyte activation, regardless of disease severity. Higher levels of tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2 were associated with death in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019.

In a prospective study of infants during their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season, one-third had a symptomatic laboratory-confirmed RSV infection. Acute otitis media developed as a complication in 77% of infants with RSV, while 7% were hospitalized with bronchiolitis.

The Aptima HCV Quant assay detects active infection from capillary-fingerstick collected dried blood spots with acceptable diagnostic performance and is clinically comparable to plasma.

Although multiple strain transmission by SOT donors is not uncommon, most D⁺/R⁻ recipient recurrent CMV DNAemia was due to infection with the same single strain. In coinfected recipients, late CMV DNAemia waves frequently demonstrated CMV strain predominance shifts

Longer duration of influenza virus shedding and a stronger symptomatic response were associated with greater serological response to influenza among cases in Managua, Nicaragua.

Parallel, pooled whole-genome amplification and hybrid selection enabled whole-genome sequencing of Treponema pallidum DNA extracted directly from primary syphilis chancre swabs, despite challenging storage conditions. Phylogenomic analysis revealed diverse strains, including the first Nichols-like genome reported from China to date.

SLAMF7 expression on macrophages was enhanced upon M1 polarization and bacterial infection, and in turn promoted M2 polarization. SLAMF7 knockout aggravated, while treatment with recombinant SLAMF7 alleviated, corneal inflammation and disease progression of P. aeruginosa keratitis by modulating M1/M2 balance.

This study of 34 447 human immunodeficiency virus 1 sequences collected in Florida showed high prevalence of drug resistance with significant sociodemographic and geospatial heterogeneity. Resistance was linked to counties with lower socioeconomic status, higher unemployment, and poor mental health.

We developed an all-in-one phylodynamics platform to detect recent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, drug resistance, and transmission networks using next-generation-sequencing from remnant HIV diagnostic tests. Of persons with new diagnoses, 35% were estimated to be recently infected, and clustered infections were frequent.

Identifying people with HIV (PWH) at risk for chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular events, and death is crucial. Urine albumin to creatinine ratio and cystatin C predict all-cause mortality and/or cardiovascular events in PWH independently of measured glomerular filtration rate.

Repeated exposure to infective Necator americanus larvae does not aggravate adverse events and leads to reduced variability in egg excretion. Repeated sampling improves power for drug or vaccine efficacy studies.

Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and taxon-directed quantitative PCR, increasing quantities of Megasphaera species and Mageeibacillus indolicus were associated with lower risk of detecting yeast, whereas increasing quantities of Lactobacillus crispatus were associated with higher risk of detecting yeast.