Prevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Poznan, Poland, after the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In comparison to other European countries, during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Poland reported a relatively low number of confirmed cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. To estimate the scale of the pandemic in Poland, a serosurvey of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was performed after the first wave of COVID-19 in Europe (March-May 2020). Within this study, we collected samples from 28 July to 24 September 2020 and, based on the ELISA results, we found that 1.67% (25/1500, 95% CI 1.13-2.45) of the Poznan (Poland) metropolitan area's population had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after the first wave of COVID-19. However, the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies was confirmed with immunoblotting in 56% (14/25) samples, which finally resulted in a decrease in seroprevalence, i.e., 0.93% (14/1500, 95% CI 0.56-1.56). The positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG results were associated with age, occupation involving constant contact with people, travelling abroad, non-compliance with epidemiological recommendations and direct contact with the novel coronavirus. Our findings confirm the low SARS-CoV-2 incidence in Poland and imply that the population had little herd immunity heading into the second and third wave of the pandemic, and therefore, that herd immunity contributed little to preventing the high numbers of SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-related deaths in Poland during these subsequent waves.

CSF Proteomics of Patients with Hydrocephalus and Subarachnoid Haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of brain injury following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is associated with numerous mediators. The aim of the study is to analyse protein changes after SAH in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using mass spectrometry (MS). METHODS: CSF samples were obtained from forty-four control subjects, seven good outcome and ten poor outcome SAH patients. CSF samples were collected at specific time intervals after SAH (days 1, 5 and 10). MALDI-TOF (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight) and ClinProTools software were utilised for MS, MS/MS (Mass Spectrometry) spectra collection and analysis. Selected masses were identified. The MALDI-TOF profiling experiments allowed for the targeted selection of potential markers in SAH. The study was performed in three steps by comparison of CSF samples: (1) from the control group and SAH patients (both good and poor outcome groups); (2) collected on days 1, 5 and 10 within the groups of poor SAH and good SAH patients, respectively; (3) from poor outcome SAH and good outcome patients at days 1, 5 and 10. RESULTS: 15 new proteins whose CSF level is alternated by SAH presence, SAH treatment outcome and time passed since aneurysm rupture were identified. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated new proteins which might play a role in different stages of subarachnoid haemorrhage and could be a new target for further investigation.