TY  - JOUR
AB  - BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) may result in breakthrough infections (BTIs) in vaccinated individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of full primary (two-dose) COVID-19 vaccination with wild-type-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines on symptoms and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 VOC BTIs. METHODS: In a longitudinal multicenter controlled cohort study in Bavaria, Germany, COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated non-hospitalized individuals were prospectively enrolled within 14 days of a PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Individuals were visited weekly up to 4 times, performing a structured record of medical data and viral load assessment. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody response was characterized by anti-spike-(S)- and anti-nucleocapsid-(N)-antibody concentrations, anti-S-IgG avidity and neutralization capacity. RESULTS: A total of 300 individuals (212 BTIs, 88 non-BTIs) were included with VOC Alpha or Delta SARS-CoV-2 infections. Full primary COVID-19 vaccination provided a significant effectiveness against five symptoms (relative risk reduction): fever (33 %), cough (21 %), dysgeusia (22 %), dizziness (52 %) and nausea/vomiting (48 %). Full primary vaccinated individuals showed significantly higher 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50) values against the infecting VOC compared to unvaccinated individuals at week 1 (269 vs. 56, respectively), and weeks 5-7 (1,917 vs. 932, respectively) with significantly higher relative anti-S-IgG avidity (78% vs. 27 % at week 4, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Full primary COVID-19 vaccination reduced symptom frequencies in non-hospitalized individuals with BTIs and elicited a more rapid and longer lasting neutralization capacity against the infecting VOC compared to unvaccinated individuals. These results support the recommendation to offer at least full primary vaccination to all adults to reduce disease severity caused by immune escape-variants.
AU  - Prelog, M.*
AU  - Jeske, S.D.*
AU  - Asam, C.*
AU  - Fuchs, A.*
AU  - Wieser, A.*
AU  - Gall, C.*
AU  - Wytopil, M.*
AU  - Mueller-Schmucker, S.M.*
AU  - Beileke, S.*
AU  - Gökkaya, M.
AU  - Kling, E.*
AU  - Geldmacher, C.*
AU  - Rubio-Acero, R.*
AU  - Plank, M.*
AU  - Christa, C.*
AU  - Willmann, A.*
AU  - Vu, M.*
AU  - Einhauser, S.*
AU  - Weps, M.*
AU  - Lampl, B.M.J.*
AU  - Almanzar, G.*
AU  - Kousha, K.*
AU  - Schwägerl, V.*
AU  - Liebl, B.*
AU  - Weber, B.*
AU  - Drescher, J.*
AU  - Scheidt, J.*
AU  - Gefeller, O.*
AU  - Messmann, H.*
AU  - Protzer, U.
AU  - Liese, J.*
AU  - Hoelscher, M.*
AU  - Wagner, R.*
AU  - Überla, K.*
AU  - Steininger, P.*
C1  - 68976
C2  - 53798
TI  - Clinical and immunological benefits of full primary COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections: A prospective cohort study in non-hospitalized adults.
JO  - J. Clin. Virol.
VL  - 170
PY  - 2024
SN  - 1386-6532
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adenovirus (ADV) infections can have a high mortality in immunocompromised patients and are difficult to treat. OBJECTIVES AND STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed occurrence and risk factors of ADV infection in 399 adults with hematological disorders undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), focusing on alternative donor transplantation (ADT) and disseminated disease. RESULTS: ADV infection occurred in 42 patients (10.5%). Disease was localized in 18 and disseminated in 6 patients. ADV infection was observed in 15% after ADT, performed in 29% of all recipients, and was less frequent (6%) in T-cell-replete (TCR) haploidentical transplantation using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCY) than in other ADT protocols. Lower age, the use of alternative donor grafts and acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD)≥grade II were risk factors for ADV infection. After failure of standard antiviral treatment, three patients with disseminated ADV disease received one dose of ADV-specific T cells, resulting in virological response in 2/3 patients, clearance of ADV viremia in 2/2 patients, and survival of 1/3 patients; both patients with pneumonia died. CONCLUSIONS: ADV infection was of moderate occurrence in our adult recipients of allo-HSCT despite a high proportion of potential high-risk patients receiving ADT. TCR strategies using PTCY might limit ADV complications in haploidentical transplantation. Despite feasible adoptive therapy strategies, outcome of disseminated disease remains dismal.
AU  - Hubmann, M.*
AU  - Fritsch, S.*
AU  - Zoellner, A.K.*
AU  - Prevalsek, D.*
AU  - Engel, N.*
AU  - Bücklein, V.L.*
AU  - Mumm, F.*
AU  - Schulz, C.*
AU  - Stemmler, H.J.*
AU  - Jäger, G.*
AU  - Ledderose, G.*
AU  - Kolb, H.J.*
AU  - Hausmann, A.*
AU  - Hiddemann, W.*
AU  - Moosmann, A.
AU  - Tischer, J.*
C1  - 49109
C2  - 41623
CY  - Amsterdam
SP  - 33-40
TI  - Occurrence, risk factors and outcome of adenovirus infection in adult recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
JO  - J. Clin. Virol.
VL  - 82
PB  - Elsevier Science Bv
PY  - 2016
SN  - 1386-6532
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Background: Noroviruses are among the most prevalent causative agents for gastroenteritis worldwide. The low infectious dose, its stability in the environment, and its genetic variability enable the virus to cause outbreaks, especially in health care facilities and other similar settings. Genotype II.4 has been most prevalent over the last years. Objectives: To characterize an extended norovirus outbreak at a university hospital in Munich, Germany, molecularly and epidemiologically. Study design: The outbreak affecting more than 100 persons within 3 days was monitored by real time PCR. The rapid onset indicated a food-borne outbreak. Rigorous hygienic measures, including disinfection procedures and closure of wards helped contain the outbreak within 6 days. A 2193 nt sequence covering polymerase (825 nt) and capsid gene (1388 nt) was characterized from 4 specimens derived from different wards and the catering facility. Results: Our polymerase sequences were classified GII.g, whereas the capsid belonged to GII.1. Recombination analysis revealed a putative breakpoint at a typical location. Our sequenced region clustered with GIIg/GII.1 sequences first detected in Hungary, Belgium, and the US in 2010. p-Distances on nucleic acid level were 0.18 and 0.21, respectively. Conclusions: Our data establish a novel strain classified as GII.g/GII.1 as the causative agent for an extended outbreak.
AU  - Hoffmann, D.
AU  - Mauroy, A.*
AU  - Seebach, J.
AU  - Simon, V.*
AU  - Wantia, N.*
AU  - Protzer, U.
C1  - 27528
C2  - 32715
SP  - 24-30
TI  - New norovirus classified as a recombinant GII.g/GII.1 causes an extended foodborne outbreak at a university hospital in Munich.
JO  - J. Clin. Virol.
VL  - 58
IS  - 1
PB  - Elsevier Science
PY  - 2013
SN  - 1386-6532
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Background: Several correlates of HIV control have been described; however their predictive values remain unclear, since most studies have been performed in cross-sectional settings. Objectives: We evaluated the cause and consequence relationship between quality of HIV-specific T-cell response and viral load dynamic in a temporal perspective. Study design: HIV-1-specific T-cell responses were monitored over 7 years in a patient that following treatment interruption maintained a stable/low viral set point for 3.1 years before control of viral replication was lost and antiretroviral therapy restarted. Results: We observed that high frequencies of HIV-1-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells were unable to prevent loss of viral control. Gradual loss of functionality was observed in these responses, characterized by early loss of IL-2, viral load-dependent decrease of IFN-gamma and CD154 expression as well as increase of MIP-1 beta production. Terminally differentiated HIV-1-specific CD8 T cells expressing CD45RA were lost independently of viral load and preceded the loss-of-control phase of HIV infection. Conclusion: By describing qualitative changes in HIV-1-specific T-cell responses that coincide with loss of viral control, we identified specific correlates of disease progression and putative markers of viral control. Our findings suggest including the markers IL-2, IFN-gamma, MIP-1 beta, CD154 and CD45RA into monitoring of HIV-specific T-cell-responses to prospectively determine correlates of protection from disease-progression.
AU  - Dembek, C.J.
AU  - Kutscher, S.
AU  - Allgayer, S.
AU  - Russo, C.
AU  - Bauer, T.
AU  - Hoffmann, D.*
AU  - Goebel, F.D.*
AU  - Bogner, J.R.*
AU  - Erfle, V.
AU  - Protzer, U.
AU  - Cosma, A.
C1  - 8553
C2  - 30225
SP  - 114-120
TI  - Longitudinal changes in HIV-1-specific T-cell quality associated with viral load dynamic.
JO  - J. Clin. Virol.
VL  - 55
IS  - 2
PB  - Elsevier Science
PY  - 2012
SN  - 1386-6532
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Fiegl, M.*
AU  - Gerbitz, A.*
AU  - Gaeta, A.*
AU  - Campe, H.*
AU  - Jaeger, G.*
AU  - Kolb, H.-J.
C1  - 3898
C2  - 22995
SP  - 219-223
TI  - Recovery from CMV esophagitis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation using non-myeloablative conditioning: The role of immunosuppression.
JO  - J. Clin. Virol.
VL  - 34
PY  - 2005
SN  - 1386-6532
ER  -