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The emergence of COVID-19 has emphasised that biological assay data must be analysed quickly to develop safe, effective and timely vaccines/therapeutics. For viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the primary way of measuring immune correlates of protection is through assays such as the pseudotype microneutralisation (pMN) assay, thanks to its safety and versatility. However, despite the presence of existing tools for data analysis such as PRISM and R the analysis of these assays remains cumbersome and time-consuming. We introduce an open-source R Shiny web application and R library (AutoPlate) to accelerate data analysis of dose-response curve immunoassays. Using example data from influenza studies, we show that AutoPlate improves on available analysis software in terms of ease of use, flexibility and speed. AutoPlate (https://philpalmer.shinyapps.io/AutoPlate/) is a tool for the use of laboratories and wider scientific community to accelerate the analysis of biological assays in the development of viral vaccines and therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent in chronic kidney disease [CKD] patients. The aim of our study was to determine whether losses of vitamin D binding protein [VDBP] in urine and dialysate contribute to circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25OHD] levels in chronic peritoneal dialysis [PD] patients. Methods: Dialysate, serum, and urine VDBP levels were measured in 16 children on PD and compared with serum and urine VDBP in ten CKD4-5 patients. Serum VDBP levels were correlated with total circulating 25OHD and peritoneal VDBP losses. Results: The mean age of the study population was 9.4 ± 3.8 years and the median time on dialysis 7.5 (1-18) months. In CKD4-5 patients, urinary VDBP losses were >300-fold higher than seen in age-matched healthy children and correlated with urinary albumin loss ( p = 0.0008). There was a significant correlation between serum VDBP and total dialysate and urine losses of VDBP ( p = 0.03, r = −0.53). Dialysate VDBP losses correlate with dialysate albumin loss ( p = 0.01). VDBP losses in the long daytime dwell were higher than in the overnight drain ( p = 0.04). Serum VDBP levels were lower in children with a longer dialysis vintage ( p = 0.0004, r = −0.77). In PD patients, the mean total loss of VDBP in dialysate and urine was 1.91 ± 1.6 μmol/day, equivalent to ~7% of the total circulating level of VDBP in healthy controls. There was no correlation between 25(OH)D and VDBP. Conclusions: Peritoneal VDBP losses mirror both dialysate and urinary albumin losses, and are associated with a longer dialysis vintage but do not contribute to vitamin D deficiency in children on PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D deficiency is common in adult renal transplant recipients, but data in children are scarce. Vitamin D is shown to have multiple effects on the cardiovascular system, renal function, and maintenance of bone health. We hypothesized that 25(OH)D deficiency is common in pediatric renal transplant recipients, and may be associated with hyperparathyroidism, short stature, renal function, and blood pressure control. We recruited 106 children during the winter/spring season who had a functioning renal transplant for at least 3 months. Twenty-five hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)D] were measured and correlated with clinical and biochemical parameters. Of the renal transplant patients, 38% were 25(OH)D deficient, 54% had insufficient levels, and only 8% had adequate 25(OH)D levels. Despite alfacalcidol supplementation in 59 (56%) patients, parathyroid hormone was increased in 58 (55%) and showed an inverse correlation with 25(OH)D ( p = 0.0003, r = 0.61) but not with 1,25(OH)D levels. Height standard deviation score (SDS) correlated with 25(OH)D ( p = 0.007, r = 0.42) and time post transplantation ( p = 0.02, r = 0.23); both were significant and independent predictors of height SDS. 25(OH)D inversely correlated with systolic BP SDS ( p = 0.02, r =−0.26); this association was lost on multiple regression analysis, but 25(OH)D was the only modifiable risk factor for hypertension. There was no correlation with estimated GFR or proteinuria. In conclusion, 25(OH)D deficiency is common in pediatric renal transplant recipients and correlates with hyperparathyroidism and short stature. 25(OH)D deficiency may be a modifiable risk factor for hypertension in transplant recipients. Further studies are required to test if routine supplementation with ergo or cholecalciferol is safe and effective in children after renal transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]