Titer Values Research Articles

MO997: Covid-19 Antibody Responses in Renal Transplant Patients Following Booster Vaccination

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS The COVID-19 vaccination programme has been monumental in the protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, recent research has shown suboptimal responses in immunosuppressed patients, such as those with solid organ transplant receiving immunosuppressive (IS) treatment. Whilst initial studies have suggested patients have improved humoral response to booster vaccines, the data are still limited [1]. We have examined the differences in SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibodies in renal transplant patients between second and third doses of the vaccine and aimed to determine if those that had a poor response to the initial vaccine course developed adequate immunity following booster vaccination. METHOD A cohort study of 63 renal transplant patients receiving immunosuppression was constructed from a single centre between December 2020 and December 2021. All patients received a full course of the UK government approved SARS-CoV-2 vaccine as well as a third booster dose. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibodies were carried out and titres of ≥0.8 U/mL were considered reactive. RESULTS Of the 63 patients included, the median age was 55 years (IQR: 44–66). All patients received three doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and anti-spike antibodies were checked 32.2 ± 17 days following the third dose. Thirty-eight patients received two doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca followed by one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech. Twenty-five patients received three doses of Pfizer-BioNTech. 46.0% (n = 29) of patients had a detectable antibody response following two doses of the vaccine and 87.3% (n = 55) had a discernible response following the booster. The average titre value rose by 201% between the second and third doses. Eight patients had undetectable antibodies following the second dose and half (n = 4) developed evidence of humoral immunity following the booster. Whilst increasing age and shorter time from transplantation was associated with poor humoral response to both second and third doses, it did not reach statistical significance; P = 0.29, P = 0.059 respectively. Ten patients had previous COVID-19 infection: 2 remained seronegative following 3 vaccines, and both were within 12 months of transplantation. Those receiving calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) and antimetabolite treatment were associated with lower antibody titres compared with those receiving CNI alone (Table 1). CONCLUSION We have shown that despite three doses of the vaccine, some high-risk renal transplant patients remain vulnerable to COVID-19 and fail to develop an adequate humoral response to the vaccine. Time from transplantation and IS medications have a significant effect on SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibody production. Whilst some studies have suggested those with solid organ transplants mount a lower immune response to mRNA based vaccines [2], our cohort did not demonstrate this difference. Going forward there are still a number of unanswered questions about the significance and effectiveness of COVID antibodies, as well as the long-term protection they offer [3]. Developing ways in which we can protect those with poor humoral response despite repeated vaccination is vital.

From Brown Seaweed to a Sustainable Microbial Feedstock for the Production of Riboflavin.

The increasing global demand for food and energy production encourages the development of new production strategies focused on sustainability. Often, microbial bioprocesses rely on food or feed competitive feedstocks; hence, there is a trending need for green substrates. Here, we have proven the potential of brown seaweed biomass as microbial feedstock on account of its content of mannitol and the glucose polymer laminarin. Our host, Corynebacterium glutamicum, was engineered to enable access to mannitol as a carbon source through the heterologous expression of the mannitol-specific phosphotransferase system and the mannitol-1-phosphate-5-dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis. Overproduction of riboflavin was coupled with mannitol and glucose consumption via constitutive overexpression of the biosynthetic riboflavin operon ribGCAH from C. glutamicum. Brown seaweed extract and brown seaweed hydrolysate from Laminaria hyperborea, containing mannitol and glucose, were used as a carbon source for flask and bioreactor fermentations. In a seaweed-based fed-batch fermentation, the riboflavin final titer, yield, and volumetric productivity values of 1,291.2 mg L−1, 66.1 mg g−1, and 17.2 mg L−1 h−1, respectively, were achieved.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Cermai Leaves (Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels) Ethanol Extract on Normal Male Rats and Cyclophosphamide Induction

BACKGROUND: Ethanol extract of Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels leaf contains flavonoids and saponins that were widely used as herbal medicinal plant. The present study focused on exploring the biological potential as well as immunomodulatory effects. AIM: The present study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of P. acidus extract on total and differential leukocyte count, antibody titer, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in normal male rats, and immunosuppressed male rats. METHODS: P. acidus extract was obtained by maceration technique by using ethanol as a solvent. Standardization of P. acidus and phytochemical screening includes examination of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, and steroids/triterpenoids. The trial animals were male rats which were divided into two large groups, namely normal group and immunosuppressed group. All animals were given extract on the 1st day until day 14, on 4th day the animals were infected with 2% sheep red blood cells. Immunosuppressed rats were injected by 70 mg/kg bw cyclophosphamide on 8th and 13th day. The immunomodulatory effect was analyzed by evaluating total leukocytes, leukocyte differential, antibody titer, and DTH. RESULTS: Phytochemicals screenings were showed alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, and steroids/triterpenoids from P. acidus extract. P. acidus extract showed an immunomodulatory activity on normal male rats and immunosuppressed male rats. The result was shown from the increasing of total leukocyte count and leukocyte differential, antibody titer value, and the volume of rat paws were higher than negative control (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the P. acidus extract had immunomodulatory effects and its potential to be developed as immunomodulator agent.

Risk factors of herpes simplex virus reactivation after surgery for primary trigeminal neuralgia

The objective of this study is to investigate the risk factors of oral or facial herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) infection after primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN). The clinical data of 33 PTN patients admitted by the same surgeon in the neurosurgery were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 33 patients, 26 patients underwent microvascular decompression (MVD), 6 patients who have not been found the clear offending vessels during the operation underwent partial sensory rhizotomy (PSR), and only one underwent adhesive band separation. Thirteen patients with postoperative oral and facial HSV-1 infection were selected as the herpes group, and the remaining 20 patients without postoperative oral and facial HSV-1 infection were selected as the non-herpes group. The differences between the two groups were compared by statistical analysis of factors such as gender, age, operation mode, operation time, and serum HSV-1 antibody titer value before surgery. Compared with the non-herpes group, there were no statistically significant differences in sex ratio (P = 0.930), age composition (P = 0.261), or disease profile (P = 0.226). Twenty-six patients underwent MVD operation, eight of whom were infected, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.029). The operation time of the herpes group was 10-30min, which was significantly longer than that of the non-herpes group. The difference in operation time between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.023). Serum HSV-1-IgM was negative (< 0.9 COI) in all patients before surgery, but the positive rate of HSV-1-IgG (≥ 1.1 COI) was 97%, and the titer was greater than four times in 97% (32/33) of patients. The titer of IgG antibody in the herpes group was significantly lower than that in the non-herpes group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.017). The serum HSV-1-IgG in most of the PTN patients was positive. Latent HSV-1 in the trigeminal ganglion may be reactivate after PTN surgery to produce ipsilateral oral and facial herpes infection. The infection of HSV-1 reactivation after PTN surgery was positively correlated with the operation time but negatively correlated with the titer of HSV-1-IgG antibody before PTN surgery. The incidence of HSV-1 infection after PTN operation is related to different surgical procedures.

Anti-COVID19 Vaccine among Workers at the Local Health Authority of Rieti (Italy). Study on the Vaccine Efficacy and Seroprevalence Post-Vaccination

Objectives Our study aims to determine the trend of the antibody titer and assess the efficacy of the vaccine. Methods It was conducted on 983 healthcare professionals between 27 February 2020 and 22 October 2021 at the Local Health Authority (ASL) of Rieti. Workers voluntarily underwent serological testing before vaccination (T1), at least 15 days after vaccination (T2), and at least 150 days after vaccination (T3). We picked individuals who had received two doses of the vaccine. As for positivity, we assessed incidence – and therefore symptomatology – in three time intervals. We used a contingency tables for the analysis and tested the relation to the chi-square test and ANOVA test. Regarding differentials in terms of antibody capacity, we considered different time intervals: the methodological approach was the same. Results The average value of the dimeric serological testing at T1 was equal to 28.80 AU/mL, which increased to 220.55 AU/mL at T2, and then decreased to 143.62 AU/mL at T3 (P = 0.000). At T2, the number of people with a protective titer was equal to 95.96% of the total; at T3, it was equal to 96.39% (P = 0.019). Before the vaccination campaign, 75 workers tested positive (25 paucisymptoms, 4 severe symptoms). After vaccination, 14 workers tested positive: almost all were asymptomatic. Conclusion Vaccination determines a statistically significant variation of the average value of antibody titer, a statistically significant reduction of positive swab tests and a better prognosis.

Anti-drug antibodies of IL-23 inhibitors for psoriasis: a systematic review.

Anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) can form with certain biological medications, but their clinical significance is not fully understood. ADA formation in psoriasis patients treated with IL-23 inhibitors was evaluated, looking at the incidence of ADAs, impact on clinical outcomes and association with adverse events. A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases yielded 318 articles, which were manually reviewed. A total of 19 articles met the eligibility criteria. The incidence of ADAs with the IL-23 inhibitors was as follows: 4.1-14.7% with guselkumab, 141-31% with risankizumab and 6.51-18% with tildrakizumab. The incidence of neutralizing antibodies ranged from 01-0.6% with guselkumab, 21-16% with risankizumab and 2.5 to 3.2% with tildrakizumab. There was no evidence of reduced efficacy of psoriasis treatment with ADA presence alone. However, some studies found a reduction in clinical response with high ADA titres or with the presence of neutralizing antibodies. A few studies reported that patients with ADAs to guselkumab and risankizumab had a higher incidence of injection site reactions (ISRs). There do not appear to be other adverse events associated with ADAs with IL-23 inhibitors. Testing for presence of ADAs alone in this patient group does not appear to be predictive of treatment response. Clinically, it may be more productive to test for neutralizing antibodies or ADA titre values, although further investigation is required to show a definitive correlation.

Humoral Immune Response of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Renal Transplant Recipients.

Vaccination-induced SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies are required for herd immunity. Vaccine availability and poor vaccine response in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) remain a concern. There is no report on the efficacy of Covaxin and Covishield vaccines in RTRs. We recruited 222 live donors RTRs and analyzed the serum titer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody by chemiluminescent magnetic microparticle immunoassay. Patients were categorized into three groups: group1 with SARS-CoV-2 infection and no vaccination (n = 161); group 2 with only vaccination and no SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 41); and group 3 with both vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 20). Overall seroconversion rate was 193/222 (86.9%) with a median titer 1095.20 AU/mL. The median IgG titer value in group 1 was 647.0 AU/mL; group 2 was 1409.0 AU/mL; and group 3 was 1831.30 AU/mL. Covaxin associated seroconversion was observed in 16/19 (84.21%), with a median titer of 1373.90 AU/mL compared to that of Covishield 32/42 (76.19%), whose median titer was 1831.10 AU/mL. The seroconversion rate due to SARS-CoV-2 infection was 145 (90.06%), it was lowest with the vaccination-only group (70.7%), and with both vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection group it was highest (95%). In RTRs, SARS-CoV-2 infection and both Covaxin and Covishield vaccination effectively induce a humoral immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein; however, seroconversion rate was lower and the antibody titer was higher with vaccine than infection.

Effect of the third dose of BNT162b2 vaccine on quantitative SARS-CoV-2 spike 1-2 IgG antibody titers in healthcare personnel.

BackgroundVaccination is our main strategy to control SARS-CoV-2 infection. Given the decrease in quantitative SARS-CoV-2 spike 1–2 IgG antibody titers three months after the second BNT162b2 dose, healthcare workers received a third booster six months after completing the original protocol. This study aimed to analyze the quantitative SARS-CoV-2 spike 1–2 IgG antibody titers and the safety of the third dose.Material and methodsA prospective longitudinal cohort study included healthcare workers who received a third booster six months after completing the BNT162b2 regimen. We assessed the quantitative SARS-CoV-2 spike 1–2 IgG antibody titers 21–28 days after the first and second dose, three months after the completed protocol, 1–7 days following the third dose, and 21–28 days after booster administration.ResultsThe cohort comprised 168 participants aged 41(10) years old, 67% of whom were female. The third dose was associated with an increase in quantitative antibody titers, regardless of previous SARS-CoV-2 history. In cases with a negative SARS-CoV-2 history, the median (IQR) antibody titer values increased from 379 (645.4) to 2960 (2010) AU/ml, whereas in cases with a positive SARS-CoV-2 history, from 590 (1262) to 3090 (2080) AU/ml (p<0.001). The third dose caused a lower number of total (local and systemic) adverse events following immunization (AEFI) compared with the first two vaccines. However, in terms of specific symptoms such as fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, fever, and adenopathy, the proportion was higher in comparison with the first and second doses (p<0.05). The most common AEFI after the third BNT162b2 vaccine was pain at the injection site (n = 82, 84.5%), followed by fatigue (n = 45, 46.4%) of mild severity (n = 36, 37.1%).ConclusionThe third dose applied six months after the original BNT162b2 regimen increased the quantitative SARS-CoV-2 spike 1–2 IgG antibody titers. The booster dose was well tolerated and caused no severe AEFI.

Detection of humoral immune response induced in horses vaccinated with inactivated Equine Herpes Virus Vaccine

Equine herpesviruses (EHV1 and EHV4) are essential in horses. Repeated cases of infection and abortion in mares who have regularly vaccinated impetus us to determine to investigate the humoral immune response after post-vaccination with the same inactivated vaccine and the best vaccination protocol. Twelve healthy susceptible horses were divided into four groups (3 horse /group). The first group was vaccinated I/M with inactivated Equine Herpes (type 1 and 4), where each horse was inoculated with a single dose (2ml/ dose /horse). The second group was vaccinated with inactivated Equine Herpes (type 1 and 4) then a booster dose after two months. The third group was vaccinated with inactivated Equine Herpes (type 1 and 4) followed by two booster doses at two months intervals. Three horses were kept as a negative control in the fourth group. Serum samples were tested for the EHV and antibodies using virus Neutralization Test (VNT) and ELISA; it was found that VNT against EHV-1 indicated that the neutralizing antibody titer value ≥ 4 fold titer rise had been demonstrated at 28th-day post-vaccination for all vaccinated horse groups, it was demonstrated that the vaccinated horse group (1) indicated the significant greater titer values compared to other vaccinated groups and showed protective titer value till the end of the experiment (6 months post-vaccination), There is an agreement in titer values between ELISA and VNT tests for EHV was observed, but it could not reveal the same antibodies, where the ELISA measures antibodies against EHV1-4. It was concluded that the single-dose vaccination protocol was more appropriate for horse vaccination than other vaccination protocols.

Immunogenicity and safety of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in PLWH: A monocentric study in Bari, Italy.

In March, people living with HIV infection (PLWH) were included in the risk category of fragile people for severe COVID‐19 receiving priority access to vaccination with BNT162b2 vaccine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the two doses regimen. The antibodies titer for severe acute respiratory syndrome‐related coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) was evaluated after 21 days since the first administration (Time 1), 1 (Time 2), and 3 (Time 3) months post‐vaccination. Information regarding virological and immunological conditions at baseline, previous SARS‐CoV‐2 state of infection, other immunodeficiencies, current antiretroviral therapy (ART), comorbidities, and severe adverse events (SAE) to vaccination was collected. Six hundred and ninety‐seven patients were tested for quantitative anti‐spike antibodies at Time 1, 577 patients had a second detection at Time 2, and 491 patients had the third detection. Baseline characteristics of the study population are reported in Table 1. At the time of vaccine administration, all patients were on ART (except one long‐term nonprogressor); 632 (90.7%) patients had undetectable HIV‐RNA; 12 (1.7%) patients were immunosuppressed due to chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive drugs; 345 (49.5%) patients had at least one COVID‐19 related comorbidity and 155 (22.2%) had two or more comorbidities. No SAEs were reported. Final serological results are available for 694 patients after the first dose, 577 and 491 after the second and third ones, respectively; positive titer (values ≥ 50 AU/ml) was demonstrated in 653 (94.1%), 576 (99.8%), 484 (98.6%) patients, respectively. Only one patient was a nonresponder after completing vaccination, who was a newly diagnosed one for HIV infection. All vaccinations were well tolerated, with no SAEs. BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was immunogenic and safe in PLWH.

Comparative analyses of IgG/IgA neutralizing effects induced by three COVID-19 vaccines against variants of concern

BackgroundFew studies have directly compared virus-specific antibodies and their neutralizing capacity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) wild type (WT) and circulating variants of concern despite the reported high efficacy of messenger RNA (mRNA)- and vector-based vaccines.ObjectiveWe assessed SARS-CoV-2 spike protein region 1 (S1)-specific antibodies of BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and ChAdOx1 vaccinated as well as convalescent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. We also determined the neutralization ability against SARS-CoV-2 WT and B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B1.1.7 E484K (Alpha-E484K), B.1.351 (Beta), and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants.MethodsSerum samples of 107 fully vaccinated or convalescent individuals were analyzed for anti–SARS-CoV-2-S1 IgG and IgA as well as for total anti–SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain Ig. Furthermore, neutralization capacity as 50% and 90% neutralization titer values against SARS-CoV-2 WT virus and circulating variants were determined.ResultsWe observed a robust IgG response in all participants; however, the highest titers were detected in mRNA-based vaccine recipients. In case of serum IgA responses, the difference between mRNA- and vector-based vaccines or convalescent patients was even more pronounced. Interestingly, all 3 vaccines could neutralize all tested variants of concern in addition to WT virus, but in some individuals, only low or no neutralization, especially against Alpha-E484K and the Delta variant, was detected.ConclusionOur study of the efficacy of various COVID-19 vaccines found that mRNA-1273 had the highest neutralization abilities compared to BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1. COVID-19 convalescent patients demonstrated the most heterogeneous range of antibody titers and neutralization abilities, making it hard to assess protection. Furthermore, a significant positive relation between antibodies and the 50% neutralization titer values for immunized and convalescent individuals was determined.

Hubungan Titer Widal Dengan Jumlah dan Indeks Trombosit Penderita Demam Tifoid di Puskesmas Wilayah Lombok Barat

The diagnosis of typhoid fever can be made by hematological examination and the Widal method. Hematologic change that often occurs in typhoid fever is thrombocytopenia. Platelet function can be observed by examining the platelet index, namely the Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW). The titer on the serological examination of the Widal test is a significant diagnostic for infections caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. Objectives: To determine the relationship between the Widal titer and the number and index of platelets in patients with typhoid fever at the West Lombok Health Center. Methods: The research methodology used is an analytic observational method with a cross-sectional approach. This study was conducted from February 2021 to April 2021. The population in this study was all patients who underwent laboratory examinations diagnosed as positive for typhoid fever in the Gunungsari Health Center, West Lombok Regency, with a sample of 24 respondents. Data analysis using Spearman correlation. Results: Statistical test results obtained P≥0.05, namely the titer value against platelets p=0.429, the titer against the MPV platelet index p=1,000, PDW p=0.291. Conclusion: there is no relationship between widal titer to the number of platelets and the platelet index in patients with typhoid fever.Keywords: typhoid fever, platelets, platelet index, widal titer

Antibody durability 6 months after two doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease.

Antibody durability 6 months after two doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease.

Performance and usability evaluation of novel intradermal injection device Immucise™ and reanalysis of intradermal administration trials of influenza vaccine for the elderly

Under the pandemic situation, there is an urgent need to produce and acquire sufficient quantities of prophylactic vaccines. It becomes important to devise a way to achieve reliable immunity with lower doses to distribute limited supplies of vaccines to maximum number of people very quickly. Intradermal (ID) vaccination is one such method to increase the effectiveness of vaccines. However, this method has not been widely used in general clinical practice because it is technically difficult to inject vaccines precisely into the ID tissue. Therefore, new ID delivery systems that allow reliable ID administration are under development. In this paper, we summarize its design and present the results of performance and usability testing for the Immucise™ Intradermal Injection System (Immucise™). This study showed that Immucise™ can reduce dead volume and inject drugs precisely into the ID tissues of subjects from infants to the elderly and can be used correctly and safely by healthcare professionals.This randomized controlled trial compared ID administration with Immucise™ and standard subcutaneous (SC) administration of seasonal influenza vaccine by analyzing the efficacy of the vaccine in the elderly group at 90 days and 180 days after administration. It was found that the vaccine for the ID group was as effective or more effective than that for the SC group up to 180 days later. It was also found that the geometric mean titer values, especially for B strains, were higher in the two-dose ID group than in the two-dose SC group. These findings suggest that Immucise™ is one of the best devices to distribute a small amount of vaccine quickly and widely to a larger number of people with little loss of vaccine during a pandemic.

Autoimmune thyroid patients with CTLA-4 (+49A/G) GG/AG genotypes have high seropositivity to thyroid peroxidase than thyroglobulin

Despite increasing burden of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) in India, there is paucity of data for the genetic susceptibility in Indian population which represents an important aspect to uncover the genetic factors for the cause or progression of different forms of AITD. It is known that production of auto-antibodies to thyroglobulin (TG) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is a characteristic feature of AITD. Production of high titres of auto-antibodies against TG and TPO is one the hallmarks of AITD that often precedes the development of clinical disease. The gene coding for cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is considered an important candidate gene for susceptibility to AITD and also determines seropositivity. Earlier studies have demonstrated that polymorphic variants in CTLA-4 gene are linked to determine seropositivity. Hence, this study investigates a relationship between CTLA-4 (+49A/G) genotypes and seropositivity to anti-TPO and anti-TG antibodies in AITD patients. A total of 85 Indian participants were included and genotyped for CTLA-4 (+49A/G) single nucleotide polymorphism and further analyzed for seropositivity of TPO and TG auto-antibodies in mean age group of 35.76 ± 12.42 years of both the genders. The TPO seropositivity was reported higher in G allele containing genotypes GG and AG (66.66% and 58%, respectively) compared to AA (44.8%) genotype. Whereas, TG auto-antibodies showed highest seropositivity for genotype AA (55.17%) compared to AG (36%) and GG (16.6%). Higher median titre values were observed for TPO antibodies with GG genotype (1587.461 U/mL). In contrast to this, higher titres of auto-antibodies to TG were observed for individuals with AA genotype (520.746 U/mL). In conclusion, this study demonstrates a relationship between CTLA4 (+49A/G) genotype and seropositivity to thyroid auto antigens TPO and TG in Indian patients with clinical manifestation of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease, two different forms of AITD.

Septilin, A Polyherbal Formulation Against the Immunosuppression Induced by Cyclophosphamide and Cisplatin in Swiss Albino Mice

Background: Septilin (Spt) is an ayurvedic drug formulation from Himalaya Drug Company and is well-known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Interest in the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicine as immunomodulators has currently been the subject of scientific investigation worldwide. Cyclophosphamide (CP) and Cisplatin (Csp) are widely used chemotherapeutic drugs and are known for their immunosuppressive effects. Methods: The present study evaluated the immune-stimulating activity of Spt (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg; PO/7 days) against CP (50 mg/kg) and Csp (10 mg/kg) induced immunosuppression in mice sensitized with sheep Red Blood Cells (RBC) by measuring Hemagglutination Antibody (HA) titre values and by determining the haematological parameters, such as Haemoglobin (Hb) content, White Blood Cells (WBC), RBC and platelet counts. Thymus index and differential counts of leukocytes were also determined. Results: Upon HA assay, the titre was significantly decreased in CP (59.40%) and Csp (62.16%) in the treatment groups (P&lt;0.001). An increase in the HA titre value in Spt-treated mice showed the stimulation of humoral immune response (P&lt;0.001). The results of haematological study in Spt-treated mice indicated stimulation of total leukocytes, RBC and platelet counts. Moreover, Spt treatment prior to the administration of CP and Csp prevented the loss of body weight and minimized their adverse effect on the mice thymus. Conclusion: Our experimental evidence suggests the immunostimulatory potency of Spt against the immunosuppression induced by chemotherapeutic drugs in mice. The study results are comparable with the immune-potentiating effects of standard immunomodulatory drug Levamisole (Lev). Hence, Spt may be used as an adjuvant to obviate the immune suppression induced by chemotherapeutic medications.

Comparative Evaluation of Heat-Inactivated ABO Isoagglutinin Titers with Solid-Phase Red Cell Adhesion Titers

Background and Objectives: Measurement of actual concentration of IgG requires methods like heat inactivation (HI) of serum. This study was aimed at comparing of heat-treated ABO titers performed by conventional test tube technique (CTT) and column agglutination technique (CAT) with hemagglutination (HA)/solid-phase red cell adherence (SPRCA). Methods: This was a prospective, observational study conducted between October 2019 and March 2020. All consecutive A, B, and O group donors who gave consent for participation in the project were included. All samples were tested by CTT and CAT before and after HI (post DTT treatment performed by CTT [pCTT] and post DTT treatment performed by CAT [pCAT]) and with HA/SPRCA. Results: A total of 300 donors were included: 100 each with A, B, and O blood groups. For group O, IgG titers were higher than IgM titers among group O, whereas that among group A and group B, IgM titer was found to be higher than IgG titer by both HA/SPRCA and pCTT. The titer values among all the three blood groups were highest when the test was performed by pCAT, though the results of pCTT and SPRCA, pCTT, and pCAT were significant in group O donors. For groups A and B, results of pCTT and pCAT, pCAT, and HA/SPRCA were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Results obtained by HA/SPRCA were closer to pCTT, with respect to time consumption, expertise required, and lack of inter-observer variation. Titers obtained by pCAT were higher in comparison to pCTT obviously due to its relative higher sensitivity. Hence, these methods cannot be used interchangeably.

EVALUATION OF SOME BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS AND THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO HEPATITIS B VACCINE IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS.

The aim: The goal of this study was to assess the immune response to the HB vaccine (the level of anti-HBs titer), as well as the prevalence of serum creatinine, urea, CRP, and serum albumin levels, and the relationship between these and immune response to the vaccine. Materials and methods: 127 patients with chronic renal disease on hemodialysis (HD) were compared to 40 healthy people in Iraqi dialysis center, Baghdad. Antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were detected using the ARCHITECT SYSTEM and the Anti-HBs titer, HBs Ag, Anti-HCV determined by ELISA. Results: When compared to the poor and non-responder groups, the mean value of anti-HBs titer increased considerably in the good responder group. The good responder and control groups, on the other hand, showed no significant changes. The anti-HBs titer was found to have the strongest negative correlation with serum creatinine, blood urea, and C-reactive protein levels. There was a considerable positive connection between anti-HBs titer and albumin levels. Conclusions: The responses of HD patients to the HB vaccine revealed the significant negative relation between serum creatinine, blood urea levels, and CRP, as well as a significant positive correlation between serum albumin.

Effect of 0.5% povidone-iodine on the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal viral loads in patients with COVID-19: A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

The povidone-iodine (PvP-I) nasal antiseptic has been shown to completely inactivate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro at variable concentrations. This study was performed to investigate the effect of 0.5% PvP-I nasal drops and oral gargles on the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal viral loads in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial among patients aged ≥18 years with reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed in the mild to moderate category of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 32 patients were randomly assigned to receive either freshly prepared 0.5% PvP-I solution or distilled water in the form of supervised self-administered 4-5 nasal drops, followed by 20 ml for gargling for at least 30 seconds. The main outcome measure was the mean change in viral titer and Ct values in the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples at baseline, 5 minutes, and 3 hours post intervention. The mean change in viral titers across the time duration for the test group when compared with the control group was not statistically significant (P = 0.109). However, the mean change in Ct value was found to be borderline statistically significant (P = 0.042). Noticeable differences were noted among the mean viral titers and Ct values in the intervention group when plotted against the time of testing as compared to the control group. PvP-I solution at 0.5% dilution was well tolerated, and no evident side effects were reported. This study shows that 0.5% PvP-I has an effect on reducing nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal viral loads in COVID-19 patients. This can be of substantial aid for the primary care physicians, especially for the practitioners in remote and resource poor areas.

Protection against SARS-CoV-2 BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants via vaccination and natural infection: A modeling study.

With continuing emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, understanding the proportion of the population protected against infection is crucial for public health risk assessment and decision-making and so that the general public can take preventive measures. We aimed to estimate the protection against symptomatic illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 elicited by vaccination against and natural infection with other SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants. We used a logistic model to define the protection rate against symptomatic infection caused by BA.1 and BA.2 as a function of neutralizing antibody titer values. Applying the quantified relationships to BA.4 and BA.5 using two different methods, the estimated protection rate against BA.4 and BA.5 was 11.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01-25.4) (method 1) and 12.9% (95% CI: 8.8-18.0) (method 2) at 6 months after a second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine, 44.3% (95% CI: 20.0-59.3) (method 1) and 47.3% (95% CI: 34.1-60.6) (method 2) at 2 weeks after a third BNT162b2 dose, and 52.3% (95% CI: 25.1-69.2) (method 1) and 54.9% (95% CI: 37.6-71.4) (method 2) during the convalescent phase after infection with BA.1 and BA.2, respectively. Our study indicates that the protection rate against BA.4 and BA.5 are significantly lower compared with those against previous variants and may lead to substantial morbidity, and overall estimates were consistent with empirical reports. Our simple yet practical models enable prompt assessment of public health impacts posed by new SARS-CoV-2 variants using small sample-size neutralization titer data to support public health decisions in urgent situations.