Combining SARS-CoV-2 interferon-gamma release assay with humoral response assessment to define immune memory profiles.

OBJECTIVES: In the post-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic era, "breakthrough infections" are still documented, due to variants of concerns (VoCs) emergence and waning humoral immunity. Despite widespread utilization, the definition of the anti-Spike (S) immunoglobulin-G (IgG) threshold to define protection has unveiled several limitations. Here, we explore the advantages of incorporating T-cell response assessment to enhance the definition of immune memory profile. METHODS: SARS-CoV-2 interferon-gamma release assay test (IGRA) was performed on samples collected longitudinally from immunocompetent healthcare workers throughout their immunization by infection and/or vaccination, anti-receptor-binding domain IgG levels were assessed in parallel. The risk of symptomatic infection according to cellular/humoral immune capacities during Omicron BA.1 wave was then estimated. RESULTS: Close to 40% of our samples were exclusively IGRA-positive, largely due to time elapsed since their last immunization. This suggests that individuals have sustained long-lasting cellular immunity, while they would have been classified as lacking protective immunity based solely on IgG threshold. Moreover, the Cox regression model highlighted that Omicron BA.1 circulation raises the risk of symptomatic infection while increased anti-receptor-binding domain IgG and IGRA levels tended to reduce it. CONCLUSION: The discrepancy between humoral and cellular responses highlights the significance of assessing the overall adaptive immune response. This integrated approach allows the identification of vulnerable subjects and can be of interest to guide antiviral prophylaxis at an individual level.

Specific detection of memory T-cells in COVID-19 patients using standardized whole-blood Interferon gammarelease assay.

Antigen-specific T-cells are essential for protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. We set up a semi-automated whole-blood Interferon-gamma release assay (WB IGRA) to monitor the T-cell response after stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 peptide pools. We report that the WB IGRA is complementary to serological assays to assess SARS-CoV-2 immunity.

Deciphering Multifactorial Resistance Phenotypes in Acinetobacter baumannii by Genomics and Targeted Label-free Proteomics.

Resistance to ß-lactams in Acinetobacter baumannii involves various mechanisms. To decipher them, whole genome sequencing (WGS) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were complemented by mass spectrometry (MS) in selected reaction monitoring mode (SRM) in 39 clinical isolates. The targeted label-free proteomic approach enabled, in one hour and using a single method, the quantitative detection of 16 proteins associated with antibiotic resistance: eight acquired ß-lactamases (i.e. GES, NDM-1, OXA-23, OXA-24, OXA-58, PER, TEM-1, and VEB), two resident ß-lactamases (i.e. ADC and OXA-51-like) and six components of the two major efflux systems (i.e. AdeABC and AdeIJK). Results were normalized using "bacterial quantotypic peptides," i.e. peptide markers of the bacterial quantity, to obtain precise protein quantitation (on average 8.93% coefficient of variation for three biological replicates). This allowed to correlate the levels of resistance to ß-lactam with those of the production of acquired as well as resident ß-lactamases or of efflux systems. SRM detected enhanced ADC or OXA-51-like production and absence or increased efflux pump production. Precise protein quantitation was particularly valuable to detect resistance mechanisms mediated by regulated genes or by overexpression of chromosomal genes. Combination of WGS and MS, two orthogonal and complementary techniques, allows thereby interpretation of the resistance phenotypes at the molecular level.

Expression, refolding and bio-structural analysis of a tetravalent recombinant dengue envelope domain III protein for serological diagnosis.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by four genetically and serologically related viruses that affect several millions of people. Envelope domain III (EDIII) of the viral envelope protein contains dengue virus (DENV) type-specific and DENV complex-reactive antigenic sites. Here, we describe the expression in Escherichia coli, the refolding and bio-structural analysis of envelope domain III of the four dengue serotypes as a tetravalent dengue protein (EDIIIT2), generating an attractive diagnostic candidate. In vitro refolding of denatured EDIIIT2 was performed by successive dialysis with decreasing concentrations of chaotropic reagent and in the presence of oxidized glutathione. The efficiency of refolding was demonstrated by protein mobility shifting and fluorescent visualization of labeled cysteine in non-reducing SDS-PAGE. The identity and the fully oxidized state of the protein were verified by mass spectrometry. Analysis of the structure by fluorescence, differential scanning calorimetry and circular dichroism showed a well-formed structural conformation mainly composed of ß-strands. A label-free immunoassay based on biolayer interferometry technology was subsequently used to evaluate antigenic properties of folded EDIIIT2 protein using a panel of dengue IgM positive and negative human sera. Our data collectively support the use of an oxidatively refolded EDIIIT2 recombinant chimeric protein as a promising antigen in the serological diagnosis of dengue virus infections.

Impact of Serum and Plasma Matrices on the Titration of Human Inflammatory Biomarkers Using Analytically Validated SRM Assays.

Protein biomarker discovery has inherent challenges linked to the validation of the analytical method used or to the impact of biological matrices. Matrix influences must be mastered to guarantee the reliability of the identified biomarkers to monitor human diseases. In this study, multiplexed mass spectrometry assays in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode have been developed to measure 107 inflammatory putative proteins in matched serum and plasma from 36 ICU trauma patients. The assays' validation directly in clinical samples was shown to be valuable to manage intersample variability. Using the validation process developed here, assays were validated for 58 biomarkers in serum, 57 in plasma, and 55 in both matrices. Correlation analyses demonstrated that the quantitation using SRM of most of the validated biomarkers (45/55) was impacted by the biological matrix and that the matrix impact was biomarker-dependent. Among the 45 impacted biomarkers, 23 were nevertheless correlated between serum and plasma, whereas the quantitation was shown to be equivalent in both for the 10 last proteins. Matrix selection using SRM is therefore suggested to be suitable prior to clinical evaluation of biomarkers in a large cohort of patients.

Rapid Bacterial Identification, Resistance, Virulence and Type Profiling using Selected Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry.

Mass spectrometry (MS) in Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) mode is proposed for in-depth characterisation of microorganisms in a multiplexed analysis. Within 60-80 minutes, the SRM method performs microbial identification (I), antibiotic-resistance detection (R), virulence assessment (V) and it provides epidemiological typing information (T). This SRM application is illustrated by the analysis of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrating its promise for rapid characterisation of bacteria from positive blood cultures of sepsis patients.

Clinical quantitation of prostate-specific antigen biomarker in the low nanogram/milliliter range by conventional bore liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (multiple reaction monitoring) coupling and correlation with ELISA tests.

Proteomics discovery leads to a list of potential protein biomarkers that have to be subsequently verified and validated with a statistically viable number of patients. Although the most sensitive, the development of an ELISA test is time-consuming when antibodies are not available and need to be conceived. Mass spectrometry analysis driven in quantitative multiple reaction monitoring mode is now appearing as a promising alternative to quantify proteins in biological fluids. However, all the studies published to date describe limits of quantitation in the low microg/ml range when no immunoenrichment of the target protein is applied, whereas the concentration of known clinical biomarkers is usually in the ng/ml range. Using prostate-specific antigen as a model biomarker, we now provide proof of principle that mass spectrometry enables protein quantitation in a concentration range of clinical interest without immunoenrichment. We have developed and optimized a robust sample processing method combining albumin depletion, trypsin digestion, and solid phase extraction of the proteotypic peptides starting from only 100 microl of serum. For analysis, mass spectrometry was coupled to a conventional liquid chromatography system using a 2-mm-internal diameter reverse phase column. This mass spectrometry-based strategy was applied to the quantitation of prostate-specific antigen in sera of patients with either benign prostate hyperplasia or prostate cancer. The quantitation was performed against an external calibration curve by interpolation, and results showed good correlation with existing ELISA tests applied to the same samples. This strategy might now be implemented in any clinical laboratory or certified company for further evaluation of any putative biomarker in the low ng/ml range of serum or plasma.

Mapping of B-cell epitopes in a Trypanosoma cruzi immunodominant antigen expressed in natural infections.

Tc40 is an immunodominant antigen present in natural Trypanosoma cruzi infections. This immunogen was thoroughly mapped by using overlapping amino acid sequences identified by gene cloning and chemical peptide synthesis. To map continuous epitopes of the Tc40 antigen, an epitope expression library was constructed and screened with sera from human chagasic patients. A major, linear B-cell epitope spanning residues 403 to 426 (PAKAAAPPAA) was identified in the central domain of Tc40. A synthetic peptide spanning this region reacted strongly with 89.8% of the serum samples from T. cruzi-infected individuals. This indicates that the main antigenic site is defined by the linear sequence of the peptide rather than a conformation-dependent structure. The major B-cell epitope of Tc40 shares a high degree of sequence identity with T. cruzi ribosomal and RNA binding proteins, suggesting the existence of cross-reactivity among these molecules.

Characterization of mimotopes mimicking an immunodominant conformational epitope on the hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural 3 (NS3) protein is composed of an amino terminal protease and a carboxyl terminal RNA helicase. NS3 contains major antigenic epitopes. The antibody response to NS3 appears early in the course of infection and is focused on the helicase region. However, this response cannot be defined by short synthetic peptides indicating the recognition of conformation-dependent epitopes. In this study, we have screened a dodecapeptide library displayed on phage with anti-NS3 mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that compete with each other and human anti-HCV NS3 positive sera. Two peptides (mimotopes) were selected that appeared to mimic an immunodominant epitope since they were recognized specifically by the different anti-NS3 mAbs of the study and by human sera from HCV infected patients. Homology search between the two mimotopes and the NS3 sequence showed that one of the two peptides shared amino acid similarities with NS3 at residues 1396-1398 on a very accessible loop as visualized on the three-dimensional structure of the helicase domain whereas the other one had two amino acids similar to nearby residues 1376 and 1378. Reproduced as synthetic dodecapeptides, the two mimotopes were recognized specifically by 19 and 22, respectively, out of 49 sera from HCV infected patients. These mimotopes allowed also the detection of anti-NS3 antibodies in sera of HCV patients at the seroconversion stage. These results suggest that the two NS3 mimotopes are potential tools for the diagnosis of HCV infection.