ABSTRACT
Background: Reactivation of BK virus (BKV) infection can cause significant kidney disease in immunocompromised patients. BKV nephropathy is a leading cause of allograft loss in kidney transplant recipients. There are currently no effective or BKV-specific therapies. MAU868 is a novel monoclonal human IgG1 that binds to the BKV major capsid protein with potent in vitro neutralizing activity against the 4 major BKV genotypes. Method(s): This is a Phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in patients (pts) who received a kidney transplant within one year. Pts had BK viremia;either >=104 copies/ml within 10 days of randomization or >=103 copies/ml in 2 consecutive samples 1-3 wks apart with most recent value measured within 10 days of randomization. Pts were randomized (2:1) to MAU868 or placebo intravenously (IV) every 28 days for 12 wks, with 24 wks follow-up. This analysis reports efficacy results at 16 and 36 wks for 2 cohorts: Cohort 1: MAU868 1350 mg IV X4 doses, and Cohort 2: MAU868 6750 mg IV followed by 1350 mg IV X3 doses. The primary endpoint was safety;BKV viral load (VL) response to treatment was assessed as secondary endpoints and post-hoc analyses. Result(s): 20 pts received MAU868 and 8 pts received placebo;all completed 12 wks of treatment and 24 wks of follow-up. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Median baseline VL was 16,700 log10 BKV DNA copies/ml (range 1,200-1,800,000). MAU868 was well tolerated, with a comparable frequency of adverse events and serious adverse events between groups through wk 36. There were 2 deaths in the MAU868 group due to COVID-19 infection deemed unrelated to study drug. The antiviral effect was greater in the MAU868 group than in the placebo group at wk 16 and sustained through wk 36 (Table). Conclusion(s): MAU868 was well tolerated and demonstrated clinically meaningful BK antiviral activity in kidney transplant recipients with BK viremia. These results support the further development of MAU868 as a therapy for BK viremia. (Table Presented).
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for innovative biosensing, diagnostic, and surveillance platforms. Here we report that glycosylated, polymer-stabilized, gold nanorods can bind the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and show correlation to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in primary COVID-19 clinical samples. Telechelic polymers were prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization, enabling the capture of 2,3-sialyllactose and immobilization onto gold nanorods. Control experiments with a panel of lectins and a galactosamine-terminated polymer confirmed the selective binding. The glycosylated rods were shown to give dose-dependent responses against recombinant truncated SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and the responses were further correlated using primary patient swab samples. The essentiality of the anisotropic particles for reducing the background interference is demonstrated. This highlights the utility of polymer tethering of glycans for plasmonic biosensors of infection.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Nanotubes , COVID-19/diagnosis , Gold , Humans , Pandemics , Polymers , SARS-CoV-2 , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolismABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic, and future pandemics, require diagnostic tools to track disease spread and guide the isolation of (a)symptomatic individuals. Lateral-flow diagnostics (LFDs) are rapid and of lower cost than molecular (genetic) tests, with current LFDs using antibodies as their recognition units. Herein, we develop a prototype flow-through device (related, but distinct to LFDs), utilizing N-acetyl neuraminic acid-functionalized, polymer-coated, gold nanoparticles as the detection/capture unit for SARS-COV-2, by targeting the sialic acid-binding site of the spike protein. The prototype device can give rapid results, with higher viral loads being faster than lower viral loads. The prototype's effectiveness is demonstrated using spike protein, lentiviral models, and a panel of heat-inactivated primary patient nasal swabs. The device was also shown to retain detection capability toward recombinant spike proteins from several variants (mutants) of concern. This study provides the proof of principle that glyco-lateral-flow devices could be developed to be used in the tracking monitoring of infectious agents, to complement, or as alternatives to antibody-based systems.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Metal Nanoparticles , Gold , Humans , Pandemics , Polysaccharides , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
There is an urgent need to understand the behavior of the novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), which is the causative agent of COVID-19, and to develop point-of-care diagnostics. Here, a glyconanoparticle platform is used to discover that N-acetyl neuraminic acid has affinity toward the SARS-COV-2 spike glycoprotein, demonstrating its glycan-binding function. Optimization of the particle size and coating enabled detection of the spike glycoprotein in lateral flow and showed selectivity over the SARS-COV-1 spike protein. Using a virus-like particle and a pseudotyped lentivirus model, paper-based lateral flow detection was demonstrated in under 30 min, showing the potential of this system as a low-cost detection platform.
ABSTRACT
There is an urgent need to understand the behavior of novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), which is the causative agent of COVID-19, and to develop point-of-care diagnostics. Here, a glyconanoparticle platform is used to discover that N-acetyl neuraminic acid has high affinity towards the SARS-COV-2 spike glycoprotein, demonstrating its glycan-binding function. Optimization of the particle size and coating enabled detection of the spike glycoprotein in lateral flow and showed selectivity over the SARS-COV-1 spike protein. Using a viral particle mimic, paper-based lateral flow detection was demonstrated in under 30 minutes showing the potential of this system as a low-cost detection platform.