Immunosuppression and oxidative stress induced by subchronic exposure to carbosulfan in rat spleen: immunomodulatory and antioxidant role of N-acetylcysteine.

The present study was designed to determine the immunosuppressive effects of carbosulfan (CB) and their relationship with an increased formation of reactive oxygen species in rat. Further, we aimed to evaluate the protective effects of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) against immunopathological changes induced by CB. Carbosulfan (25 mg/kg) and NAC (2 g/l) were given daily to rats during 30 days, via oral gavage and drinking water, respectively. Cell-mediated immune function, cytokines production, biomarkers of cell redox state maintenance, lipid peroxidation and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured in the spleen. Our data showed an increase in WBC percent (28.42%), a reduction in spleen CD8 T-lymphocytes (-85.63%) and a decrease in immunosuppressive cytokines production such as INF-gamma and IL-4. There was a switch from Th1-type to Th2-type cytokines with an unbalance toward anti-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (-71.68%) and total thiols (-39.81%) levels were observed in treated rats. Conversely, malondialdehyde level in spleen was increased (-42.3%), while glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were depleted. Our results suggest that subchronic CB administration affects cellular enzyme and non-enzyme-mediated antioxidant defense systems and promotes immunotoxicity in rat. On the other hand, our data showed protective effects of NAC. Indeed, there was a recovery of oxidative stress markers and cytokines production. The use of NAC, in our study, as a therapeutic agent showed interesting results against CB toxicity.

Correction: Salivary Antigen SP32 Is the Immunodominant Target of the Antibody Response to Phlebotomus papatasi Bites in Humans.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001911.].

Snapshot of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies in COVID-19 Recovered Patients in Guinea.

Background: Because the regular vaccine campaign started in Guinea one year after the COVID-19 index case, the profile of naturally acquired immunity following primary SARS-CoV-2 infection needs to be deepened. Methods: Blood samples were collected once from 200 patients (90% of African extraction) who were recovered from COVID-19 for at least ~2.4 months (72 days), and their sera were tested for IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 using an in-house ELISA assay against the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike1 protein (RBD/S1-IH kit). Results: Results revealed that 73% of sera (146/200) were positive for IgG to SARS-CoV-2 with an Optical Density (OD) ranging from 0.13 to 1.19 and a median value of 0.56 (IC95: 0.51-0.61). The median OD value at 3 months (1.040) suddenly decreased thereafter and remained stable around OD 0.5 until 15 months post-infection. The OD median value was slightly higher in males compared to females (0.62 vs. 0.49), but the difference was not statistically significant (p-value: 0.073). In contrast, the OD median value was significantly higher among the 60-100 age group (0.87) compared to other groups, with a noteworthy odds ratio compared to the 0-20 age group (OR: 9.69, p-value: 0.044*). Results from the RBD/S1-IH ELISA kit demonstrated superior concordance with the whole spike1 protein ELISA commercial kit compared to a nucleoprotein ELISA commercial kit. Furthermore, anti-spike1 protein ELISAs (whole spike1 and RBD/S1) revealed higher seropositivity rates. Conclusions: These findings underscore the necessity for additional insights into naturally acquired immunity against COVID-19 and emphasize the relevance of specific ELISA kits for accurate seropositivity rates.

Development and comparative evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD and N based ELISA tests in various African endemic settings.

Management of the COVID-19 pandemic relies on molecular diagnostic methods supported by serological tools. Herein, we developed S-RBD- and N- based ELISA assays useful for infection rate surveillance as well as the follow-up of acquired protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. ELISA assays were optimized using COVID-19 Tunisian patients' sera and prepandemic controls. Assays were further validated in 3 African countries with variable endemic settings. The receiver operating curve was used to evaluate the assay performances. The N- and S-RBD-based ELISA assays performances, in Tunisia, were very high (AUC: 0.966 and 0.98, respectively, p < 0.0001). Cross-validation analysis showed similar performances in different settings. Cross-reactivity, with malaria infection, against viral antigens, was noticed. In head-to-head comparisons with different commercial assays, the developed assays showed high agreement. This study demonstrates, the added value of the developed serological assays in low-income countries, particularly in ethnically diverse populations with variable exposure to local endemic infectious diseases.