Prevalence and Phenotypic Susceptibility to Doravirine of the HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase V106I Polymorphism in B and Non-B Subtypes.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available regarding the susceptibility of the reverse transcriptase V106 polymorphism to doravirine. METHODS: Doravirine susceptibility was measured in site-directed mutants (SDMs) containing V106I, V106A, V106M, and Y188L mutations in subtype B (NL4-3, HXB2) and CRF02_AG background and in recombinant viruses with RT harboring V106I alone derived from 50 people with HIV. RESULTS: HIV-1 B subtype was detected in 1523 of 2705 cases. Prevalence of V106I was 3.2% in B and 2.5% in non-B subtypes, and was higher in subtype F (8.1%) and D (14.3%). Fold-changes (FC) in susceptibility for SDMs were below doravirine biological cutoff (3.0) for V106I, but not for V106A, V106M, and Y188L. Clinically derived viruses tested included 22 B (median FC, 1.2; interquartile range [IQR], 0.9-1.6) and 28 non-B subtypes (median FC, 1.8; IQR, 0.9-3.0). Nine (18%) viruses showed FC values equal or higher than the doravirine biological FC cutoff. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of the HIV-1 RT V106I polymorphism in MeditRes HIV consortium remains low, but significantly more prevalent in subtypes D and F. V106I minimally decreased the susceptibility to doravirine in SDMs and most clinical isolates. Reduced susceptibility seems to occur at increased frequency in subtype F1; however, the clinical impact remains to be investigated. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT04894357.

The RT M184V resistance mutation clearance in the reservoir is mainly related to CD4 nadir and viral load zenith independently of therapeutic regimen type.

OBJECTIVES: Resistance associated mutations (RAMs) are archived in the HIV reservoir and can re-emerge with an inappropriate ART use limiting treatment options. However, recent studies, using ultra-deep sequencing (UDS), showed a decrease of quasispecies harbouring RAMs, suggesting that recycling some antiretrovirals could be considered. The aim of this study was to characterize, in HIV treated PLWHIV, the M184V mutation decrease kinetics in proviral DNA and associated factors of M184V mutation clearance over time. METHODS: UDS was performed on HIV-DNA from blood cells at different time points to quantify the percentage of M184V positive quasispecies. The sequence reads were analysed with a minimum coverage set at 50 and an ambiguity filter at 5% or 2%. RESULTS: At 2.5 years after the first time point, the M184V lost was observed in 50% of PLWHIV. Moreover, univariate analyses highlight that a higher nadir CD4 count and a lower zenith HIV1 RNA viral load were correlated with a faster clearance of the mutation. In multivariate analysis, a higher zenith was negatively associated with the M184V clearance at the 5% threshold. Interestingly, lamivudine/emtricitabine presence in the ART therapy regiment during the 5 years was not associated with the persistence of the M184V. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides new information concerning the clearance speed of M184V mutation over time in PLWHIV with fully suppressed viremia, opens the discussion about the duration needed to consider a lamivudine/emtricitabine recycling and reinforces the association of the nadir and zenith values with the M184V mutation clearance.

Transmitted Drug Resistance to Integrase-Based First-Line Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antiretroviral Regimens in Mediterranean Europe.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) to integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) and nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and of clinically relevant resistance (CRR) in newly diagnosed people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PWH) naive to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Europe. METHODS: MeditRes is a consortium that includes ART-naive PWH newly diagnosed in France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain during 2018-2021. Reverse transcriptase and INSTI sequences were provided by participating centers. To evaluate the prevalence of surveillance drug resistance mutations (SDRM), we used the calibrated population resistance tools from the Stanford HIV website. To evaluate CRR, defined as any resistance level ≥3, we used the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database v.9.1 algorithm. RESULTS: We included 2705 PWH, 72% men, median age of 37 years (interquartile range, 30-48); 43.7% were infected by non-B subtypes. The prevalence of INSTI-SDRMs was 0.30% (T66I, T66A, E92Q, E138T, E138K, Y143R, S147G, R263K; all n=1) and the prevalence of NRTI-SDRMs was 5.77% (M184V: 0.85%; M184I: 0.18%; K65R/N: 0.11%; K70E: 0.07%; L74V/I: 0.18%; any thymidine analog mutations: 4.36%). INSTI-CRR was 2.33% (0.15% dolutegravir/bictegravir, 2.29% raltegravir/elvitegravir) and 1.74% to first-line NRTIs (0.89% tenofovir/tenofovir alafenamide, 1.74% abacavir, 1.07% lamivudine/emtricitabine). CONCLUSIONS: We present the most recent data on TDR to integrase-based first-line regimens in Europe. Given the low prevalence of CRR to second-generation integrase inhibitors and to first-line NRTIs during 2018-2021, it is unlikely that newly diagnosed PWH in MeditRes countries would present with baseline resistance to a first-line regimen based on second-generation integrase inhibitors.

Kinetics of Archived M184V Mutation in Treatment-Experienced Virally Suppressed HIV-Infected Patients.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the kinetics of drug-resistant viral variants (DRVs) harboring the M184V mutation in proviral DNA of long-term virally suppressed patients, and factors associated with DRV persistence. METHODS: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DNA from blood cells stored in 2016 and 2019 was sequenced using Sanger and ultradeep sequencing (SS and UDS; detection threshold 1%) in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated patients with HIV RNA < 50 copies/mL for at least 5 years, with past M184V mutation documented in HIV RNA. RESULTS: Among 79 patients, by combining SS and UDS, M184V was found to be absent in 26/79 (33%) patients and persistent in 53/79 (67%). M184V-positive patients had a longer history of ART, lower CD4 nadir, and higher pretherapeutic HIV RNA. Among 37 patients with viral sequences assessed by UDS, the proportion of M184V-positive DRVs significantly decreased between 2016 and 2019 (40% vs 14%, P = .005). The persistence of M184V was associated with duration and level of HIV RNA replication under lamivudine/emtricitabine (3TC/FTC; P = .0009 and P = .009, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: While it decreased over time in HIV DNA, M184V mutation was more frequently persistent in HIV DNA of more treatment-experienced patients with longer past replication under 3TC/FTC.

Neutralization Heterogeneity of UK and South African Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Variants in BNT162b2-Vaccinated or Convalescent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Healthcare Workers.

There are concerns about neutralizing antibodies' (NAbs') potency against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants. Despite decreased NAb titers elicited by BNT162b2 vaccine against VOC202012/01 and 501Y.V2 strains, 28/29 healthcare workers (HCWs) had an NAb titer ≥1:10. In contrast, 6 months after coronavirus disease 2019 mild forms, only 9/15 (60%) of HCWs displayed detectable NAbs against 501Y.V2 strain.

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis M114T PFN1 Mutation Deregulates Alternative Autophagy Pathways and Mitochondrial Homeostasis.

Mutations in profilin 1 (PFN1) have been identified in rare familial cases of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). PFN1 is involved in multiple pathways that could intervene in ALS pathology. However, the specific pathogenic role of PFN1 mutations in ALS is still not fully understood. We hypothesized that PFN1 could play a role in regulating autophagy pathways and that PFN1 mutations could disrupt this function. We used patient cells (lymphoblasts) or tissue (post-mortem) carrying PFN1 mutations (M114T and E117G), and designed experimental models expressing wild-type or mutant PFN1 (cell lines and novel PFN1 mice established by lentiviral transgenesis) to study the effects of PFN1 mutations on autophagic pathway markers. We observed no accumulation of PFN1 in the spinal cord of one E117G mutation carrier. Moreover, in patient lymphoblasts and transfected cell lines, the M114T mutant PFN1 protein was unstable and deregulated the RAB9-mediated alternative autophagy pathway involved in the clearance of damaged mitochondria. In vivo, motor neurons expressing M114T mutant PFN1 showed mitochondrial abnormalities. Our results demonstrate that the M114T PFN1 mutation is more deleterious than the E117G variant in patient cells and experimental models and suggest a role for the RAB9-dependent autophagic pathway in ALS.

Disturbances of brain cholesterol metabolism: A new excitotoxic process associated with status epilepticus.

The understanding of the excitotoxic processes associated with a severe status epilepticus (SE) is of major importance. Changes of brain cholesterol homeostasis is an emerging candidate for excitotoxicity. We conducted an overall analysis of the cholesterol homeostasis both (i) in fluids and tissues from patients with SE: blood (n = 63, n = 87 controls), CSF (n = 32, n = 60 controls), and post-mortem brain tissues (n = 8, n = 8 controls) and (ii) in a mouse model of SE induced by an intrahippocampal injection of kainic acid. 24-hydroxycholesterol levels were decreased in kainic acid mouse hippocampus and in human plasma and post-mortem brain tissues of patients with SE when compared with controls. The decrease of 24-hydroxycholesterol levels was followed by increased cholesterol levels and by an increase of the cholesterol synthesis. Desmosterol levels were higher in human CSF and in mice and human hippocampus after SE. Lanosterol and dihydrolanosterol levels were higher in plasma from SE patients. Our results suggest that a CYP46A1 inhibition could occur after SE and is followed by a brain cholesterol accumulation. The excess of cholesterol is known to be excitotoxic for neuronal cells and may participate to neurological sequelae observed after SE. This study highlights a new pathophysiological pathway involved in SE excitotoxicity.

No difference in HIV-1 integrase inhibitor resistance between CSF and blood compartments.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about HIV-1 integrase inhibitor resistance in the CNS. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate integrase inhibitor resistance in CSF, as a marker of the CNS, and compare it with the resistance in plasma. METHODS: HIV integrase was sequenced both in plasma and CSF for 59 HIV-1 patients. The clinical and biological data were collected from clinical routine care. RESULTS: Among the 59 HIV-1 patients, 32 (54.2%) were under antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. The median (IQR) HIV-1 RNA in the plasma of viraemic patients was 5.32 (3.85-5.80) and 3.59 (2.16-4.50) log10 copies/mL versus 4.79 (3.56-5.25) and 3.80 (2.68-4.33) log10 copies/mL in the CSF of ARV-naive and ARV-treated patients, respectively. The patients were mainly infected with non-B subtypes (72.2%) with the most prevalent recombinant form being CRF02_AG (42.4%). The HIV-1 integrase sequences from CSF presented resistance mutations for 9/27 (33.3%) and 8/32 (25.0%) for ARV-naive (L74I, n = 3; L74I/M, n = 1; T97A, n = 1; E157Q, n = 4) and ARV-treated (L74I, n = 6; L74M, n = 1; T97A, n = 1; N155H, n = 1) patients, respectively. Integrase inhibitor resistance mutations in CSF were similar to those in plasma, except for 1/59 patients. CONCLUSIONS: This work shows similar integrase inhibitor resistance profiles in the CNS and plasma in a population of HIV-1 viraemic patients.

Presence of HIV-1 G-to-A mutations linked to APOBEC editing is more prevalent in non-B HIV-1 subtypes and is associated with lower HIV-1 reservoir.

OBJECTIVES: APOBEC3 editing activity contributes to sequences variation and viral diversification. We aimed to characterize virological and clinical factors associated with G-to-A mutations and stop codons in the HIV-1 reservoir, markers of APOBEC3 footprints, in order to better understand HIV-1 diversity among virologically suppressed HIV-1-infected patients. METHODS: Immuno-virological and clinical factors were compared between 92 patients harbouring G-to-A mutations and stop codons (APOBEC+) in the reverse transcriptase gene and 92 patients without G-to-A mutations (APOBEC-) and stop codons in their DNA genotypes. RESULTS: Patients were predominantly men (74.5%) and were mostly infected by B-subtype (69.0%), with 44.1% and 55.9% in APOBEC+ and APOBEC- groups, respectively. At time of HIV DNA genotypes, the total cell-associated HIV-1 DNA load was 2.34 log10 copies/106 cells (IQR 1.85-2.67) and 33.2% of them had a detectable ultrasensitive plasma viral load. Hypermutated sequences were identified in 28.2% of the APOBEC+ group. The median total cell-associated HIV-1 DNA level was significantly lower in APOBEC+ than APOBEC- group: 2.13 log10 copies/106 cells (IQR 1.60-2.60) versus 2.52 log10 copies/106 cells (IQR 2.19-2.71) (P < 0.001), respectively. Presence of G-to-A mutations and stop codon was independently associated with HIV-1 subtype non-B (P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: These results show an independent association between the presence of G-to-A mutations and stop codons with HIV-1 subtype non-B and low proviral DNA that could be explained by the APOBEC3 footprints and restriction of DNA synthesis and integration. However, further investigations are needed to study the contribution of Vif amino acid variability among HIV-1 subtypes.

Impact of a frequent nearsplice SOD1 variant in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: optimising SOD1 genetic screening for gene therapy opportunities.

OBJECTIVE: Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 gene (SOD1), encoding copper/zinc superoxide dismutase protein, are the second most frequent high penetrant genetic cause for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) motor neuron disease in populations of European descent. More than 200 missense variants are reported along the SOD1 protein. To limit the production of these aberrant and deleterious SOD1 species, antisense oligonucleotide approaches have recently emerged and showed promising effects in clinical trials. To offer the possibility to any patient with SOD1-ALS to benefit of such a gene therapy, it is necessary to ascertain whether any variant of unknown significance (VUS), detected for example in SOD1 non-coding sequences, is pathogenic. METHODS: We analysed SOD1 mutation distribution after SOD1 sequencing in a large cohort of 470 French familial ALS (fALS) index cases. RESULTS: We identified a total of 27 SOD1 variants in 38 families including two SOD1 variants located in nearsplice or intronic regions of the gene. The pathogenicity of the c.358-10T>G nearsplice SOD1 variant was corroborated based on its high frequency (as the second most frequent SOD1 variant) in French fALS, the segregation analysis confirmed in eight affected members of a large pedigree, the typical SOD1-related phenotype observed (with lower limb onset and prominent lower motor neuron involvement), and findings on postmortem tissues showing SOD1 misaccumulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlighted nearsplice/intronic mutations in SOD1 are responsible for a significant portion of French fALS and suggested the systematic analysis of the SOD1 mRNA sequence could become the method of choice for SOD1 screening, not to miss these specific cases.

Mutations in SQSTM1 encoding p62 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: genetics and neuropathology.

Mutations in SQSTM1 encoding the sequestosome 1/p62 protein have recently been identified in familial and sporadic cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). p62 is a component of the ubiquitin inclusions detected in degenerating neurons in ALS patients. We sequenced SQSTM1 in 90 French patients with familial ALS (FALS) and 74 autopsied ALS cases with sporadic ALS (SALS). We identified, at the heterozygote state, one missense c.1175C>T, p.Pro392Leu (exon 8) in one of our FALS and one substitution in intron 7 (the c.1165+1G>A, previously called IVS7+1 G-A, A390X) affecting the exon 7 splicing site in one SALS. These mutations that are located in the ubiquitin-associated domain (UBA domain) of the p62 protein have already been described in Paget's disease and ALS patients carrying these mutations had both concomitant Paget's disease. However, we also identified two novel missense mutations in two SALS: the c.259A>G, p.Met87Val in exon 2 and the c.304A>G, p.Lys102Glu in exon 3. These mutations that were not detected in 360 control subjects are possibly pathogenic. Neuropathology analysis of three patients carrying SQSTM1 variants revealed the presence of large round p62 inclusions in motor neurons, and immunoblot analysis showed an increased p62 and TDP-43 protein levels in the spinal cord. Our results confirm that SQSTM1 gene mutations could be the cause or genetic susceptibility factor of ALS in some patients.

Phenotype difference between ALS patients with expanded repeats in C9ORF72 and patients with mutations in other ALS-related genes.

BACKGROUND: Expanded GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeats in the promoter of the C9ORF72 gene have recently been identified in frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and ALS-FTD and appear as the most common genetic cause of familial (FALS) and sporadic (SALS) forms of ALS. METHODS: We searched for the C9ORF72 repeat expansion in 950 French ALS patients (225 FALS and 725 SALS) and 580 control subjects and performed genotype-phenotype correlations. RESULTS: The repeat expansion was present in 46% of FALS, 8% of SALS and 0% of controls. Phenotype comparisons were made between FALS patients with expanded C9ORF72 repeats and patients carrying another ALS-related gene (SOD1, TARDBP, FUS) or a yet unidentified genetic defect. SALS patients with and without C9ORF72 repeat expansions were also compared. The C9ORF72 group presented more frequent bulbar onset both in FALS (p<0.0001 vs SOD1, p=0.002 vs TARDBP, p=0.011 vs FUS, p=0.0153 vs other FALS) and SALS (p=0.047). FALS patients with C9ORF72 expansions had more frequent association with FTD than the other FALS patients (p<0.0001 vs SOD1, p=0.04 vs TARDBP, p=0.004 vs FUS, p=0.03 vs other FALS). C9ORF72-linked FALS patients presented an older age of onset than SOD1 (p=0.0139) or FUS mutation (p<0.0001) carriers. Disease duration was shorter for C9ORF72 expansion carriers than for SOD1 (p<0.0001) and TARDBP (p=0.0242) carriers, other FALS (p<0.0001) and C9ORF72-negative SALS (p=0.0006). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the major role of expanded repeats in C9ORF72 as causative for ALS and provide evidence for specific phenotypic aspects compared to patients with other ALS-related genes.

Prolonged replication of BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron lineages compared to Delta variant in nasopharyngeal samples from COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to characterize and compare the viral loads (VL) of the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 lineages and the Delta variant in nasopharyngeal samples from newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients and their kinetics over time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The kinetics of the VL were measured on the CT data from 215 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients who presented at least two positive PCRs a day apart and were screened for SARS-CoV-2 viral lineages. RESULTS: We observed no significant difference in median CT value during the first diagnostic test between the Delta variant and the two Omicron lineages. However, the kinetics of CT decreases for the BA.1 and BA.2 lineage were significantly lengthier in time than the kinetics for the Delta variant. The BA.2 lineage presented lower median CT value (-2 CT) (inversely proportional to the VL) than the BA.1 lineage. CONCLUSIONS: BA.2 Omicron lineage presented higher VL than BA.1 Omicron lineage at diagnostic. Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 lineages have more prolonged replication than the Delta variant.

Long-term evolution of humoral immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to characterize the evolution of humoral immune response up to 1 year after SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers (HCWs) during the first wave of COVID-19 in Paris. METHODS: Serum samples from 92 HCWs were tested at month 0 (M0), M6, and M12 after SARS-CoV-2 infection for IgG targeting the nucleocapsid (N), IgG targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike (S) protein, IgA targeting S, and anti-RBD neutralizing antibodies. After M6, 46 HCWs received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine. RESULTS: We observed a significant decrease in all SARS-CoV-2 immunologic markers at M6 post-infection: median decreases were 0.26 log binding antibody units/mL (M0: 1.9 (interquartile range (IQR) 1.47-2.27); M6: 1.64 (IQR 1.22-1.92)) for anti-RBD IgG; 4.10 (index) (M0: 4.94 (IQR 2.72-6.82); M6: 0.84 (IQR 0.25-1.55)) for anti-N IgG; 0.64 (index) (M0: 2.50 (IQR 1.18-4.62); M6: 1.86 (IQR 0.85-3.54)) for anti-S IgA; and 24.4% (M0: 66.4 (IQR 39.7-82.5); M6: 42.0 (IQR 16.8-68.8)) inhibition activity for the RBD neutralizing antibodies. Between M6 and M12, anti-RBD IgG level, anti-S IgA index, and anti-RBD neutralizing activity significantly increased among COVID-19 vaccinated HCWs, whereas they remained stable among unvaccinated HCWs. Anti-N IgG index significantly decreased between M6 and M12 among both vaccinated (median: 0.73 (IQR 0.23-1.11) at M6 and 0.52 (IQR 0.20-0.73) at M12) and unvaccinated HCWs (median: 0.79 (IQR 0.21-4.67) at M6 and 0.34 (IQR 0.24-2.78) at M12). DISCUSSION: A steady decline in the anti-N IgG response was observed during the first year after SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs, whereas the anti-RBD IgG and the anti-S IgA responses remained stable and could be enhanced by COVID-19 vaccination.

Virological efficacy of switch to DTG plus 3TC in a retrospective observational cohort of suppressed HIV-1 patients with or without past M184V: the LAMRES study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of dolutegravir plus lamivudine (DTG+3TC) in a large set of virologically suppressed HIV-1 infected individuals with or without past M184V mutation. METHODS: This observational study included individuals who switched to DTG+3TC with ≥1 genotype before switch. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the role of past M184V on virological rebound (VR) or blips after DTG+3TC switch. RESULTS: A total of 712 individuals followed in several clinical centres in France, Italy and Spain were analysed. Past M184V was present in 60 (8.4%) individuals. By 3 years after switch, the overall probability of VR and blips was 6.7% and 6.9%, respectively, without any statistical significance according to the presence/absence of past M184V. A significantly higher probability of VR was found in individuals harbouring M184V before DTG+3TC with a duration of virological suppression (Ts) ≤.3.5 years compared to others (M184V+Ts ≤.3.5 years: 22.7%; M184M+Ts ≤.3.5 years: 9.0%; M184V+Ts >3.5 years: 7.8%; M184M+Ts >3.5 years: 4.9%; P = 0.007). This finding was not confirmed in multivariable models adjusting for behavioural and demographic variables. Genotypic resistance test after VR under DTG+3TC was available for 8/39 individuals; one poorly adherent individual developed M184V. No resistance to INIs was found. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective observational study, the probability of VR and blips in patients switching to DTG+3TC was very low after 3 years of treatment regardless M184V. The effect of a short duration of previous virological suppression in individuals with M184V remains troubling and needs ad hoc clinical trials to be confirmed.

Cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated risk factors among frontline health care workers in Paris: the SEROCOV cohort study.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, documenting whether health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 contamination and identifying risk factors is of major concern. In this multicenter prospective cohort study, HCWs from frontline departments were included in March and April 2020 and followed for 3 months. SARS-CoV-2 serology was performed at month 0 (M0), M1, and M3 and RT-PCR in case of symptoms. The primary outcome was laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at M3. Risk factors of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at M3 were identified by multivariate logistic regression. Among 1062 HCWs (median [interquartile range] age, 33 [28-42] years; 758 [71.4%] women; 321 [30.2%] physicians), the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection at M3 was 14.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] [12.5; 16.9]). Risk factors were the working department specialty, with increased risk for intensive care units (odds ratio 1.80, 95% CI [0.38; 8.58]), emergency departments (3.91 [0.83; 18.43]) and infectious diseases departments (4.22 [0.92; 18.28]); current smoking was associated with reduced risk (0.36 [0.21; 0.63]). Age, sex, professional category, number of years of experience in the job or department, and public transportation use were not significantly associated with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at M3. The rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection in frontline HCWs was 14.6% at the end of the first COVID-19 wave in Paris and occurred mainly early. The study argues for an origin of professional in addition to private life contamination and therefore including HCWs in the first-line vaccination target population. It also highlights that smokers were at lower risk.Trial registration The study has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04304690 first registered on 11/03/2020.

Co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 with other respiratory viruses and performance of lower respiratory tract samples for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed during the early outbreak period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the seasonal epidemics of other respiratory viral infections, in order to describe the extent of co-infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with other respiratory viruses. It also compared the diagnostic performances of upper respiratory tract (URT) and lower respiratory tract (LRT) samples for SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: From 25 January to 29 March 2020, all URT and LRT samples collected from patients with suspected COVID-19 received in the virology laboratory of Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital (Paris, France) were simultaneously tested for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. RESULTS: A total of 1423 consecutive patients were tested: 677 (47.6%) males, 746 (52.4%) females, median age 50 (range, 1-103) years. Twenty-one (1.5%) patients were positive for both SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. The detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 was significantly higher in LRT than in URT (53.6% vs. 13.4%; p<0.0001). The analysis of paired samples from 117 (8.2%) patients showed that SARS-CoV-2 load was lower in URT than in LRT samples in 65% of cases. CONCLUSION: The detection of other respiratory viruses in patients during this epidemic period could not rule out SARS-CoV-2 co-infection. Furthermore, LRT samples increased the accuracy of diagnosis of COVID-19.

Genetic screening of ANXA11 revealed novel mutations linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ANXA11 mutations have previously been discovered in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) motor neuron disease. To confirm the contribution of ANXA11 mutations to ALS, a large exome data set obtained from 330 French patients, including 150 familial ALS index cases and 180 sporadic ALS cases, was analyzed, leading to the identification of 3 rare ANXA11 variants in 5 patients. The novel p.L254V variant was associated with early onset sporadic ALS. The novel p.D40Y mutation and the p.G38R variant concerned patients with predominant pyramidal tract involvement and cognitive decline. Neuropathologic findings in a p.G38R carrier associated the presence of ALS typical inclusions within the spinal cord, massive degeneration of the lateral tracts, and type A frontotemporal lobar degeneration. This mutant form of annexin A11 accumulated in various brain regions and in spinal cord motor neurons, although its stability was decreased in patients' lymphoblasts. Because most ANXA11 inclusions were not colocalized with transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 or p62 deposits, ANXA11 aggregation does not seem mandatory to trigger neurodegeneration with additional participants/partner proteins that could intervene.

Evolution of viral quasispecies during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

OBJECTIVES: Studies are needed to better understand the genomic evolution of the recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to describe genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 by next-generation sequencing (NGS) in a patient with longitudinal follow-up for SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: Sequential samples collected between January 29th and February 4th, 2020, from a patient infected by SARS-CoV-2 were used to perform amplification of two genome fragments-including genes encoding spike, envelope, membrane and nucleocapsid proteins-and NGS was carried out with Illumina® technology. Phylogenetic analysis was performed with PhyML and viral variant identification with VarScan. RESULTS: Majority consensus sequences were identical in most of the samples (5/7) and differed in one synonymous mutation from the Wuhan reference sequence. We identified 233 variants; each sample harboured in median 38 different minority variants, and only four were shared by different samples. The frequency of mutation was similar between genes and correlated with the length of the gene (r = 0.93, p = 0.0002). Most of mutations were substitution variations (n = 217, 93.1%) and about 50% had moderate or high impact on gene expression. Viral variants also differed between lower and upper respiratory tract samples collected on the same day, suggesting independent sites of replication of SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSIONS: We report for the first time minority viral populations representing up to 1% during the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Quasispecies were different from one day to the next, as well as between anatomical sites, suggesting that in vivo this new coronavirus appears as a complex and dynamic distributions of variants.