Preservation of neutralizing antibody function in COVID-19 convalescent plasma treated using a riboflavin and ultraviolet light-based pathogen reduction technology.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Convalescent plasma (CP) has been embraced as a safe therapeutic option for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), while other treatments are developed. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is not transmissible by transfusion, but bloodborne pathogens remain a risk in regions with high endemic prevalence of disease. Pathogen reduction can mitigate this risk; thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of riboflavin and ultraviolet light (R + UV) pathogen reduction technology on the functional properties of COVID-19 CP (CCP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: COVID-19 convalescent plasma units (n = 6) from recovered COVID-19 research donors were treated with R + UV. Pre- and post-treatment samples were tested for coagulation factor and immunoglobulin retention. Antibody binding to spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD), S1 and S2 epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 was assessed by ELISA. Neutralizing antibody (nAb) function was assessed by pseudovirus reporter viral particle neutralization (RVPN) assay and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). RESULTS: Mean retention of coagulation factors was ≥70%, while retention of immunoglobulins was 100%. Starting nAb titres were low, but PRNT50 titres did not differ between pre- and post-treatment samples. No statistically significant differences were detected in levels of IgG (P ≥ 0·3665) and IgM (P ≥ 0·1208) antibodies to RBD, S1 and S2 proteins before and after treatment. CONCLUSION: R + UV PRT effects on coagulation factors were similar to previous reports, but no significant effects were observed on immunoglobulin concentration and antibody function. SARS-CoV-2 nAb function in CCP is conserved following R + UV PRT treatment.

Inactivation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in plasma and platelet products using a riboflavin and ultraviolet light-based photochemical treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a member of the coronavirus family. Coronavirus infections in humans are typically associated with respiratory illnesses; however, viral RNA has been isolated in serum from infected patients. Coronaviruses have been identified as a potential low-risk threat to blood safety. The Mirasol Pathogen Reduction Technology (PRT) System utilizes riboflavin and ultraviolet (UV) light to render blood-borne pathogens noninfectious, while maintaining blood product quality. Here, we report on the efficacy of riboflavin and UV light against the pandemic virus SARS-CoV-2 when tested in both plasma and platelets units. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stock SARS-CoV-2 was grown in Vero cells and inoculated into either plasma or platelet units. Those units were then treated with riboflavin and UV light. The infectious titres of SARS-CoV-2 were determined by plaque assay using Vero cells. A total of five (n = 5) plasma and three (n = 3) platelet products were evaluated in this study. RESULTS: In both experiments, the measured titre of SARS-CoV-2 was below the limit of detection following treatment with riboflavin and UV light. The mean log reductions in the viral titres were ≥3·40 and ≥4·53 for the plasma units and platelet units, respectively. CONCLUSION: Riboflavin and UV light effectively reduced the titre of SARS-CoV-2 in both plasma and platelet products to below the limit of detection in tissue culture. The data suggest that the process would be effective in reducing the theoretical risk of transfusion transmitted SARS-CoV-2.

Red Blood Cells Derived from Whole Blood Treated with Riboflavin and UV Light Maintain Adequate Cell Quality through 21 Days of Storage.

BACKGROUND: The Mirasol system for whole blood (WB) is a non-toxic, non-mutagenic pathogen reduction technology (PRT) that treats WB units with riboflavin (vitamin B2) and ultraviolet (UV) light to alter nucleic acids, thereby reducing pathogen infectivity and inactivating white blood cells. This study evaluates the quality of red blood cells (RBCs) derived from WB treated with the Mirasol system. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Paired units of WB were collected from 61 healthy donors. One unit per donor was treated with riboflavin and UV light and the other was used as an untreated control. RBCs were processed from the WB units and stored in AS-3 at 1-6°C for 21 days and sampled for in vitro analyses of RBC quality parameters. RESULTS: Several statistically significant differences were observed between test and control units, but values were overall within normal clinical ranges. After leukoreduction, the residual leukocyte count and RBC recovery met FDA requirements. The RBC units derived from treated WB maintained haemolysis below 1% through 21 days of storage. CONCLUSION: RBCs derived from WB treated with the Mirasol system meet accepted FDA guidelines for RBC quality through 21 days of storage at 1-6°C.

A pilot study to assess the hemostatic function of pathogen-reduced platelets in patients with thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Platelet (PLT) support is critical to the care of patients with thrombocytopenia, but allogeneic transfusions carry risk. Pathogen reduction mitigates some transfusion risks, but effects on PLT function remain a concern. This clinical pilot study assessed the effect of pathogen reduction technology with riboflavin plus ultraviolet light using thrombelastography (TEG). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This prospective, randomized, crossover study compared Mirasol-treated (MIR) and standard reference (REF) PLT transfusions. PLT counts and TEG measurements were taken at pretransfusion and 1- and 24-hour-posttransfusion time points. The primary outcome measure was the pretransfusion to 1-hour-posttransfusion change in maximum amplitude (ΔMA(1 hr)). Secondary endpoints included ΔMA among other time points, relative MA, and the PLT count-MA correlation. RESULTS: Of 16 enrolled patients, one withdrew before study treatment and three did not require two transfusions, leaving 12 patients in the efficacy analyses (seven MIR-REF, five REF-MIR). ΔMA(1 hr) (mean ± SD) was 10.60 ± 6.47 mm for MIR and 14.33 ± 5.38 mm for REF (p = 0.20, n = 10). ΔMA(24hr) was 9.49 ± 7.94 for MIR and 7.13 ± 3.08 for REF (p = 0.38, n = 9); ΔMA(24hr-1 hr) was -1.11 ± 2.95 for MIR and -7.20 ± 4.81 for REF (p = 0.016, n = 8). MA values for MIR and REF correlated with the log of PLT count (rMIR = 0.6901, rREF = 0.7399). CONCLUSION: TEG is sensitive to changes in hemostatic function resulting from a single PLT transfusion. MIR and REF provided similar increments in hemostatic function in the immediate posttransfusion period and at 24 hours. A significant difference detected for ΔMA(24hr-1 hr) suggests different PLT clearance mechanisms. The relationship of these variables to clinically meaningful outcomes, for example, bleeding events or transfusion requirements, has yet to be determined.

Improving the safety of whole blood-derived transfusion products with a riboflavin-based pathogen reduction technology.

Worldwide safety of blood has been positively impacted by technological, economic and social improvements; nevertheless, growing socio-political changes of contemporary society together with environmental changes challenge the practice of blood transfusion with a continuous source of unforeseeable threats with the emergence and re-emergence of blood-borne pathogens. Pathogen reduction (PR) is a proactive strategy to mitigate the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections. PR technologies for the treatment of single plasma units and platelet concentrates are commercially available and have been successfully implemented in more than 2 dozen countries worldwide. Ideally, all labile blood components should be PR treated to ensure a safe and sustainable blood supply in accordance with regional transfusion best practices. Recently, a device (Mirasol® Pathogen Reduction Technology System) for PR treatment of whole blood using riboflavin and UV light has received CE marking, a significant step forward in realising blood safety where WB transfusion is the norm, such as in sub-Saharan Africa and in far-forward combat situations. There is also keen interest in the ability to derive components from Mirasol®-treated whole blood, as it is seen as a more efficient and economical means to implement universal PR in the blood centre environment than treatment of components with different PR systems.

Mirasol pathogen reduction technology treatment of human whole blood does not induce acute lung injury in mice.

In resource-limited settings and in the military theater, fresh human whole blood is commonly transfused, but infectious risks are a concern. Sophisticated molecular testing for potential infectious agents in the whole blood is often unavailable. To address this unmet need, pathogen reduction technology (PRT) has been developed, and it is an effective approach to inactivate a broad range of pathogens found in human blood. However, studies are needed to determine if it is harmful to blood cells and whether these cells could damage the transfused recipient, including the development of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome. In this study, we used a commercial PRT system to treat human whole blood that was then transfused into immunodeficient mice, and the development of acute lung injury was determined. In a model of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), BALB/c SCID mice developed more robust lung injury when challenged with a MHC Class I monoclonal antibody compared to BALB/c wild-type and NOD/SCID mice. Transfusion of control versus Mirasol PRT-treated whole blood (25% blood volume exchange) into BALB/c SCID mice did not produce lung injury at storage day 1. However, mild lung injury at storage days 14 and 21 was observed without significant differences in lung injury measurements between Mirasol PRT-treated and control groups. The mild storage-dependent acute lung injury correlated with trends for increased levels of cell-free hemoglobin that accumulated in both the control and Mirasol PRT-treated groups. Neutrophil extracellular traps were elevated in the plasma of BALB/c SCID mice in the monoclonal antibody TRALI model, but were not different in mice that received exchange transfusions. In conclusion, exchange transfusion of human whole blood into immunodeficient mice produces mild lung injury that is storage-dependent and not related to pathogen reduction treatment.