ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still poses a challenge for biomedicine and public health. To advance the development of effective diagnostic, prognostic, and preventive interventions, our study focused on high-throughput antibody binding epitope mapping of the SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD protein by IgA, IgM and IgG antibodies in saliva and sera of different cohorts from healthy uninfected individuals to SARS-CoV-2-infected unvaccinated and vaccinated asymptomatic, recovered, nonsevere, and severe patients. Identified candidate diagnostic (455-LFRKSNLKPFERD-467), prognostic (395-VYADSFVIRGDEV-407-C-KLH, 332-ITNLCPFGEV-342-C-KLH, 352-AWNRKRI-358-C-KLH, 524-VCGPKKSTNLVKN-536-KLH), and protective (MKLLE-487-NCYFPLQSYGFQPTNGVG-504-GGGGS-446-GGNYNYLYRLFRKSNLKPFERD-467) epitopes were validated with sera from prevaccine and postvaccine cohorts. The results identified neutralizing epitopes and support that antibody recognition of linear B-cell epitopes in RBD protein is associated with antibody isotype and disease symptomatology. The findings in asymptomatic individuals suggest a role for anti-RBD antibodies in the protective response against SARS-CoV-2. The possibility of translating results into diagnostic interventions for the early diagnosis of asymptomatic individuals and prognosis of disease severity provides new tools for COVID-19 surveillance and evaluation of risks in hospitalized patients. These results, together with other approaches, may contribute to the development of new vaccines for the control of COVID-19 and other coronavirus-related diseases using a quantum vaccinomics approach through the combination of protective epitopes.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Humans , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19/diagnosis , Epitope Mapping , Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Acute kidney injury is a common complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Several pathologic findings are continually being reported, showing a probably multifactorial etiology. The authors present a case of a patient diagnosed with a tip lesion variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in the setting of COVID-19. A 43-year-old African American female with no known renal disease presented to the emergency department with a 6-day history of fatigue, headache, hypoageusia, myalgia, cough, nausea, and vomiting. Laboratory tests confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. During hospitalization, there was a progressive decline in kidney function and evidence of nephrotic-range proteinuria without nephrotic syndrome. Biopsy specimen showed a tip lesion variant of FSGS. Genetic test revealed a homozygous variant of uncertain clinical significance (c.397G>A [p.V133M]) in the epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) gene. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a tip lesion in a COVID-19 patient with no renal history. More studies are warranted to define susceptible groups and identify the detailed mechanisms of COVID-19-related kidney disease that would allow for specific management of this complication.
ABSTRACT
Single cell biology has the potential to elucidate many critical biological processes and diseases, from development and regeneration to cancer. Single cell analyses are uncovering the molecular diversity of cells, revealing a clearer picture of the variation among and between different cell types. New techniques are beginning to unravel how differences in cell state-transcriptional, epigenetic, and other characteristics-can lead to different cell fates among genetically identical cells, which underlies complex processes such as embryonic development, drug resistance, response to injury, and cellular reprogramming. Single cell technologies also pose significant challenges relating to processing and analyzing vast amounts of data collected. To realize the potential of single cell technologies, new computational approaches are needed. On March 17-19, 2021, experts in single cell biology met virtually for the Keystone eSymposium "Single Cell Biology" to discuss advances both in single cell applications and technologies.