Differences in BNT126b2 and ChAdOx1 Homologous Vaccination Antibody Response among Teachers in Poznan, Poland.

Children are among the best vectors to spread respiratory viruses, including emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 due to the asymptomatic or relatively mild course of infection and simultaneously high titres of pathogens in the respiratory tract. Therefore, individuals who have constant contact with children, e.g., teachers should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as essential workers within the first phases of a vaccination campaign. In Poland, primary and secondary school teachers were vaccinated with ChAdOx1 from February 2021 with a three month interval between the two doses, while lecturers at medical universities, who are simultaneously healthcare workers, received the BNT126b2 vaccine from December 2020 with three weeks between the first and second doses. The aim of this study was to compare the antibody responses at two weeks and three months after vaccination and to estimate the vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 among infection-naïve teachers vaccinated with mRNA and a vector vaccine. We found that the anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies were significantly higher among the lecturers but antibody waning was slower among the schoolteachers. However, those vaccinated with ChAdOx1 complained significantly more often of vaccine side effects. In addition, during the three months after the second vaccine dose no study participants were infected with SARS-CoV-2. The BNT126b2 vaccine gave higher antibody titres in comparison with ChAdOx1 but protection against COVID-19 in both cases was similar. Moreover, we did not find any anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein antibodies at two weeks as well as at three months after vaccination among the study participants, which shows a very high vaccine effectiveness in the occupational group with a high SARS-CoV-2-infection risk.

The Longitudinal Analysis on the Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among Healthcare Workers in Poland-Before and after BNT126b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination.

One of the groups most vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is healthcare workers (HCWs) who have direct contact with suspected and confirmed coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Therefore, this study aimed to (i) conduct a longitudinal analysis of the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs working in two healthcare units (HCUs) in Poland and (ii) identify anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody (Ab) response factors following infection and anti-COVID-19 vaccination. The overall seroprevalence increased from 0% at baseline in September 2020 to 37.8% in December 2020. It reached 100% in February 2021 after BNT126b2 (Pfizer New York, NY, USA/BioNTech Mainz, Germany) full vaccination and declined to 94.3% in September 2021. We observed significant differences in seroprevalence between the tested high- and low-risk infection HCUs, with the highest seropositivity among the midwives and nurses at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Ward, who usually have contact with non-infectious patients and may not have the proper training, practice and personal protective equipment to deal with pandemic infections, such as SARS-CoV-2. We also found that anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ab levels after coronavirus infection were correlated with disease outcomes. The lowest Ab levels were found among HCWs with asymptomatic coronavirus infections, and the highest were found among HCWs with severe COVID-19. Similarly, antibody response after vaccination depended on previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and its course: the highest anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ab levels were found in vaccinated HCWs after severe COVID-19. Finally, we observed an approximately 90-95% decrease in anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ab levels within seven months after vaccination. Our findings show that HCWs have the highest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and due to antibody depletion, extra protective measures should be undertaken. In addition, in the context of the emergence of new pathogens with pandemic potential, our results highlight the necessity for better infectious disease training and regular updates for the low infection risk HCUs, where the HCWs have only occasional contact with infectious patients.

Secondary Structure of Influenza A Virus Genomic Segment 8 RNA Folded in a Cellular Environment.

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a member of the single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) family of viruses. The most recent global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has shown the major threat that RNA viruses can pose to humanity. In comparison, influenza has an even higher pandemic potential as a result of its high rate of mutations within its relatively short (<13 kbp) genome, as well as its capability to undergo genetic reassortment. In light of this threat, and the fact that RNA structure is connected to a broad range of known biological functions, deeper investigation of viral RNA (vRNA) structures is of high interest. Here, for the first time, we propose a secondary structure for segment 8 vRNA (vRNA8) of A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) formed in the presence of cellular and viral components. This structure shows similarities with prior in vitro experiments. Additionally, we determined the location of several well-defined, conserved structural motifs of vRNA8 within IAV strains with possible functionality. These RNA motifs appear to fold independently of regional nucleoprotein (NP)-binding affinity, but a low or uneven distribution of NP in each motif region is noted. This research also highlights several accessible sites for oligonucleotide tools and small molecules in vRNA8 in a cellular environment that might be a target for influenza A virus inhibition on the RNA level.

Genetic tests based on the RT-PCR reaction in the diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

INTRODUCTION: Since the SARS-CoV-2 emergence in 2019/2020, at least 158 million infections with this pathogen have been recorded, of which 3.29 million infected people have died. Due to the non-specific symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, laboratory tests based on RT-PCR (reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction) are mainly used in the diagnosis of COVID-19 disease. AIM: The aim of this study is to compare the molecular tests available on the Polish market for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV2 infection. RESULTS: Based on the data provided by the manufacturers and the performed laboratory analyses, we have shown that the available diagnostic kits differ mainly in the sensitivity and duration of the reaction. CONCLUSION: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the indicated parameters are key to effective control of the spread of SARS-CoV2, and therefore should be mainly taken into account when choosing and purchasing by diagnostic centres.

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.