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In this study, we comprehensively analyzed multispecific antibody kinetics of different immunoglobulins in hospitalized patients with acute severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Three hundred fifty-four blood samples longitudinally obtained from 81 IgG-seroconverting progressed coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVID-19) patients were quantified for spike 1 (S1), S2, and nucleocapsid protein (NCP)-specific IgM, IgA, IgG, and total Ig antibodies using a microarray, 11 different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs)/chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIAs), and 1 rapid test by seven manufacturers.

ABSTRACTCytomegalovirus (CMV) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in lung transplant recipients (LTRs). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the relationship between the CMV DNA load in the lung compartment and that in plasma. For CMV load determination, the level of CMV DNA in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples was measured in a total of 97 paired BAL and plasma samples obtained from 25 LTRs. The original virus concentration in the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) was calculated from the BAL samples by correcting for dilution using the urea dilution method. In addition, the load of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and that of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) DNA also were determined in BAL samples, recalculated for their concentrations in the ELF, and compared with the CMV DNA load. CMV DNA was found more frequently and at significantly higher levels in the lung compartment than in plasma (P< 0.001, Wilcoxon test), and the CMV load in the ELF was associated with symptomatic CMV disease. EBV and HHV-6 were detected in 43.6% and 21.7% of the ELF samples, respectively. A statistically significant association was found between the CMV and EBV DNA loads in the ELF (P< 0.001; Spearman's rho = 0.651). Thus, in LTRs, determination of the CMV DNA load in the lung compartment may be advantageous compared to monitoring only viremia. The significant relationship between EBV and CMV DNA loads in the ELF of LTRs and its clinical impact require further investigation.

Background: Different subtypes of HIV-1 are prevalent in various geographical regions. Knowledge of their distribution is of importance with respect to possible differences in biological properties (such as reported for subtype E) as well as to diagnostic problems that may arise when specific subtypes are not recognized by standard serological assays. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate the presence of the five major subtypes of HIV-1 (A-E) in the Austrian population and to estimate the prevalence of the individual subtypes in different risk groups. Study design: Serum samples from 88 HIV-1 positive patients were tested for the presence of subtype-specific antibodies using a peptide ELISA. Results: The majority of the patients were shown to be infected with HIV-1 subtype B, but infections with subtypes A, C, and E were also detected in the Austrian population, primarily in the heterosexual transmission group. While subtypes A and C were probably imported from different African countries, subtype E appears to have been introduced by sex tourists returning from Thailand. Conclusion: Introduction of HIV subtypes other than B from Africa and Asia into Austria has already occurred and will certainly increase within the next few years.

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a major human pathogenic flavivirus. Sensitive assays for the detection of viral RNA may be valuable both for the identification of virus in ticks as well as for diagnostic purposes. Objectives: (1) The development of a sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test system for the detection of TBEV-RNA and its application to the identification of infected ticks; and (2) evaluation of the PCR assay for diagnostic purposes, i.e., detection of TBE virus RNA in blood and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of TBE patients. Study design: (1) Establishment of a TBEV-specific reverse transcription (RT)-nested PCR assay and evaluation of its sensitivity; (2) comparison of the PCR assay with that of virus isolation from tick suspensions; and (3) investigation of 105; serum and CSF samples from patients with serologically confirmed TBE by RT-nested PCR. Results: An RT-nested PCR assay was established with a detection limit of 100-1000 copies of TBEV RNA. All tick suspensions from which the virus could be isolated by inoculation of suckling mice also screened positive in the PCR assay. Of the 105 clinical samples investigated, only one serum and one CSF sample were positive by PCR assay, and these were both obtained very early in the course of the disease. Conclusions: The PCR assay described is valuable for the detection of TBEV in tick suspensions and can substitute for the usual virus isolation procedure in which suckling mice are inoculated. Its application for diagnostic purposes, however, does not seem to provide a significant improvement over serological diagnosis. Only in very rare cases, when a sample is drawn extremely early in the course of disease, may TBEV RNA be detected in serum or CSF before the appearance of specific IgM antibodies and thus allow an earlier diagnosis.

ABSTRACTA line probe assay (INNO-LiPA HBV DR) detecting drug-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains was evaluated. Results concordant with sequence analysis were obtained with 48 of 56 serum samples from HBV-infected patients undergoing lamivudine therapy. In eight cases, additional minor subpopulations could be identified by the line probe assay.

ABSTRACTWhether bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid may be contaminated with oropharyngeal cytomegalovirus (CMV) has never been investigated. In an analysis of CMV DNA loads in 76 simultaneously obtained BAL fluid and throat wash samples from lung transplant recipients, we show that such contamination is unlikely and that detection of CMV DNA in BAL fluid reflects virus replication in the lung.

ABSTRACTThe time between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and diagnosis is mostly unknown. Two hundred five newly diagnosed patients were investigated for the duration of their HIV infection by avidity testing. Recent HIV infection was identified in 27.3% of the cases. Early diagnosis was achieved significantly less frequently in heterosexually infected persons than in other patients.