Navid Dashti; Forough Golsaz-Shirazi; Mahmood Jeddi-Tehrani; Amir-Hassan Zarnani; Mohammad Mehdi Amiri; Fazel Shokri
Abstract
Background: Since the outbreak of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), several vaccine candidates have been developed within a short period of time. Although the potency of these vaccines was evaluated individually, their comparative potency was not comprehensively ...
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Background: Since the outbreak of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), several vaccine candidates have been developed within a short period of time. Although the potency of these vaccines was evaluated individually, their comparative potency was not comprehensively evaluated.Objective: To compare the immunogenicity and neutralization efficacy of four approved COVID-19 vaccines in Iran, including: PastoCovac Plus, Sinopharm, SpikoGen, and Noora in BALB/c mice.Methods: Different groups of female BALB/c mice were vaccinated with three doses of each vaccine. The serum levels of antibodies against the viral receptor binding domain (anti-RBD) and spike (anti-spike) protein as well as the vaccine formulation (anti-vaccine) were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The neutralization efficacy of these four vaccines was assessed through four neutralization assays: conventional virus neutralization test (cVNT), pseudotype virus neutralization test (pVNT), surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT), and inhibition flow cytometry.Results: All four vaccines induced seroconversion in vaccinated animals. All vaccines successfully induced high levels of anti-vaccine antibody; however, PastoCovac Plus and Sinopharm vaccines induced significantly higher levels of anti-RBD antibody titer compared to Noora and SpikoGen. Moreover, the results of the antibody response were corroborated by the virus neutralization tests, which revealed very weak neutralization potency by Noora and SpikoGen in all tests.Conclusion: Our results indicate significant immunogenicity and neutralization efficacy induced by PastoCovac Plus and Sinopharm, but not by Noora and SpikoGen. This suggests the need for additional comparative assessment of the potency and efficacy of these four vaccines in vaccinated subjects.
Alireza Fereidouni; Hamidreza Safari; Hadis Rezapoor; Sara Mahmoudzadeh; Mohammad Fereidouni
Abstract
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. As long as the 27th of December 2021, approximately 280 million people have been infected with coronavirus, resulting in more than 5,418,421 deaths worldwide. Since the beginning ...
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Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. As long as the 27th of December 2021, approximately 280 million people have been infected with coronavirus, resulting in more than 5,418,421 deaths worldwide. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, different methods were introduced for diagnosing coronavirus-infected patients and evaluating the immune response, following the vaccination.Objective: The current study aimed to compare the level of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) specific IgG in a group of patients who recovered from COVID-19, measured by three different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on sera from patients who recovered from a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 in Birjand, South Khorasan, Iran. SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) protein IgG levels were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Comparison between groups was made using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests.Results: The mean titer of anti-N IgG was significantly higher for the PishtazTeb Diagnostics kit than the Ideal Tashkhis Atieh kit (p<0.05). There was no correlation between the titer of anti-N IgG (PishtazTeb Diagnostics and Ideal Tashkhis Atieh) and anti-S IgG (Chemobind Company) antibodies.Conclusion: This study indicates that the domestic ELISA kits have variable but acceptable sensitivity for detecting SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies.
Atieh Yaghoubi; Samira Asli; Maryam Parhizkar; Maryam Mohammadpour; Ali Khorsand; Mehdi Yousefi; Taravat Bamdad; Saeid Amel Jamehdar
Abstract
Background: Measuring the level of antibodies produced post-vaccination in response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is considered a strategy for estimating the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines.Objective: To examine the antibody levels among the healthcare workers in different hospitals in Mashhad, ...
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Background: Measuring the level of antibodies produced post-vaccination in response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is considered a strategy for estimating the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines.Objective: To examine the antibody levels among the healthcare workers in different hospitals in Mashhad, Iran after receiving the second dose of Sputnik V.Methods: In this study, we enrolled 230 healthcare workers for evaluating the Gam-COVID-Vac or Sputnik V after the second administration in different hospitals in Mashhad. Antibody levels of spike protein were quantitatively evaluated in a sample of 230 negative RT-PCR tests for the COVID-19 individuals. The analysis has been done based on an immunological assay using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The infection history of the subjects and their families was examined through their medical records.Results: Our results demonstrated a significant association between a higher titer of IgG and a previous history of the COVID-19 infection (P<0.001). Moreover, the chance of detecting antibodies titer more than 50 AU/ml was 16.99 in these people which was significantly higher than in people without a history of infection pre-vaccination [%95CI: (7.38,39.12), P<0.001].Conclusion: This result demonstrates that the efficacy of antibody production is related to the previous history of the SARS-CoV-2 infections. Ongoing monitoring of the level of antibody among vaccinated populations will help evaluating the effect of vaccines on humoral immunity status.
Milad Zandi; Emad Behboudi; Mohammad Reza Shojaei; Saber Soltani; Hassan Karami
Abstract
Recently in a review article by Mansourabadi et al. published in the Iranian Journal of Immunology, the authors described the serological and molecular tests for COVID-19 (1). The mentioned review considered helicase (Hel) as a structural protein of SARS-CoV-2 (1). However, based on evidence, the genome ...
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Recently in a review article by Mansourabadi et al. published in the Iranian Journal of Immunology, the authors described the serological and molecular tests for COVID-19 (1). The mentioned review considered helicase (Hel) as a structural protein of SARS-CoV-2 (1). However, based on evidence, the genome of novel coronavirus is approximately 30kb in length and encodes only four structural proteins, including spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleoprotein (N) (2, 3), although helicase (NSP13) as a nonstructural protein such as RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (NSP12) encoded by the ORF region and is involved in the replication of the virus (3).In addition, authors reported that hemagglutinin esterase could be used as a favorite target for SARS-CoV-2 Real-time PCR (1); however, scientific evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 as a betacoronavirus lineage B like SARS-CoV lacks hemagglutinin esterase (4-6); thus this protein cannot be a target for detection of SARS-CoV-2. References1. Mansourabadi AH, Sadeghalvad M, Mohammadi-Motlagh H-R, Amirzargar A. Serological and Molecular Tests for COVID-19: a recent update. Iranian Journal of Immunology. 2021;18(1):13-33.2. Satarker S, Nampoothiri M. Structural proteins in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Archives of medical research. 2020;51(6):482-91.3. Yadav R, Chaudhary JK, Jain N, Chaudhary PK, Khanra S, Dhamija P, et al. Role of Structural and Non-Structural Proteins and Therapeutic Targets of SARS-CoV-2 for COVID-19. Cells. 2021;10(4):821.4. Kumar S, Nyodu R, Maurya VK, Saxena SK. Morphology, genome organization, replication, and pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). 2020:23. Author's Reply:Dear Editor,As we mentioned before, according to references, Coronaviruses have several molecular targets within their positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome. These include genes encoding structural proteins, including envelope glycoproteins spike (S), envelope (E), transmembrane (M), helicase (Hel), and nucleocapsid (N). In addition to the genes that encode structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2, there are species-specific accessory genes that are required for viral replication. These include RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), hemagglutinin-esterase (HE), and open reading frame 1a (ORF1a) and ORF1b (1-6).References1. Corman VM, et al. Detection of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) by real-time RT-PCR. Euro Surveill. 2020 Jan;25(3):2000045. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.3.2000045.2. Holshue ML, et al. First Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2020 Mar 5;382(10):929-936. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2001191.3. Rothe C, et al. Transmission of 2019-nCoV Infection from an Asymptomatic Contact in Germany. N Engl J Med. 2020 Mar 5;382(10):970-971. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2001468.4. Chan JF, et al. A familial cluster of pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus indicating person-to-person transmission: a study of a family cluster. Lancet. 2020 Feb 15;395(10223):514-523. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30154-9.5. Cui J, et al. Origin and evolution of pathogenic coronaviruses. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2019 Mar;17(3):181-192. doi: 10.1038/s41579-018-0118-9.6. Lu R, et al. Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding. Lancet. 2020 Feb 22;395(10224):565-574. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30251-8. A. Amirzargar
Haibai Sun; Hongjie Li; Shuping Huang; Lixia Shi; Zhiyan Xing; Jun Shen
Abstract
COVID-19 is a new acute respiratory infectious disease caused by a novel Coronavirus (2019-COV-2) infection. On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization announced a new 2019-COV-2 variant strain Omicron (B.1.1.529). Omicron's emergence added further uncertainty to the outbreak. Here we report ...
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COVID-19 is a new acute respiratory infectious disease caused by a novel Coronavirus (2019-COV-2) infection. On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization announced a new 2019-COV-2 variant strain Omicron (B.1.1.529). Omicron's emergence added further uncertainty to the outbreak. Here we report the first case infected with Omicron in China, a 17-year-old female student. In this paper, the clinical symptoms, laboratory and imaging examinations and treatment of the first Omicron-infected patient in China were analyzed. This report might provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of patients infected with Omicron strain across the world. The novel Coronavirus antibody tests were performed on the day of admission: IgM level was normal, novel Coronavirus antibody IgG was 132.666s /CO and IgG was 148.47s /CO on the 7th day of admission. IgG showed an increasing trend, which is consistent with the results of multiple novel Coronavirus non-Omicron strain infections.
Amir Hossein Mansourabadi; Mona Sadeghalvad; Hamid-Reza Mohammadimotlagh; Aliakbar Amirzargar
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is probably the most devastating worldwide challenge in recent century. COVID-19 leads to a mild to severe respiratory disease and affects different organs and has become a global concern since December 2019. Meanwhile, molecular biology and diagnostic laboratories played an essential ...
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The COVID-19 pandemic is probably the most devastating worldwide challenge in recent century. COVID-19 leads to a mild to severe respiratory disease and affects different organs and has become a global concern since December 2019. Meanwhile, molecular biology and diagnostic laboratories played an essential role in diagnosis of the disease by introducing serological and molecular tests. Molecular-based techniques are reliable detection tools for SARS-CoV-2 and used for diagnosis of patients especially in the early stage of the disease. While, serological assays are considered as additional tools to verify the asymptomatic infections, tracing previous contacts of individuals, vaccine efficacy, and study the seroprevalance. The average time of the appearance of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the patient's serum is 3-6 days after the onset of symptoms for both IgM and IgA and 10-18 days for IgG. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, FDA has approved and authorized a series of serological laboratory tests for early diagnosis. Serological assays have low-cost and provide fast results but have poor sensitivity in the early stage of the viral infection. Although the serological tests may not play an important role in the active case of COVID-19, it could be effective to determine the immunity of health care workers, and confirm late COVID-19 cases during the outbreak. In this review, we compared various laboratory diagnostic assays for COVID-19.
Elahe Jandaghi; Maral Hemati; Maryam Mohammadlou; Jafar Jandaghi; Majid Mirmohammadkhani; Navid Danaei; Parviz Kokhaei
Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2) causing a human pandemic disease named COVID-19 has become a major global health concern. Iran as one of the most affected countries needs unprecedented effort for monitoring and evaluation of COVID-19. Objective: To determine ...
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Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2) causing a human pandemic disease named COVID-19 has become a major global health concern. Iran as one of the most affected countries needs unprecedented effort for monitoring and evaluation of COVID-19. Objective: To determine the seroprevalance of COVID-19 in Semnan province North-East of Iran. Methods: Six hundred people were randomly selected using the "SIB data-base". From 1 to 30 June, 2020, 153 participants of Semnan population were enrolled. Blood, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples were obtained. Prevalence of IgM and IgG antibodies were ascertained using ELISA and Real-Time PCR was conducted to evaluate viral load. Estimates of prevalence were standardized by age and sex, based on the 2015 national census of Semnan province. Results: Seroprevalence showed no difference between females and males and no significant association between age and seropositivity. Among total participants, the age and sex adjusted prevalence of SARS-CoV2 infection was 19.3% (95% CI, 14.0-26.7 per 100 persons). Approximately 10% of participants had detectable antibodies but showed a negative-PCR result. However, approximately 80% of participants did not show an evidence of infection. Conclusion: The majority of the population in Semnan province has no detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, Semnan is considered a SARS-CoV-2 susceptible area. These results emphasize the need for maintaining public health measures to tackle the new epidemic wave.
Sahar Mortezagholi; Davood Rostamzadeh; Maedeh Alinejad; Vahid Younesi; Payam Tabarsi; Mahdi Shabani
Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly transmits in general population, mainly between health-care workers (HCWs) who are in close contact with patients. Objective: To study the seropositivity of HCWs as a high-risk group compared to general population. Methods: ...
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Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly transmits in general population, mainly between health-care workers (HCWs) who are in close contact with patients. Objective: To study the seropositivity of HCWs as a high-risk group compared to general population. Methods: 72 samples were obtained from HCWs working in Masih Daneshvari hospital as one of the main COVID-19 admission centers in Tehran, during April 4 to 6, 2020. Also we collected 2021 blood samples from general population. The SARS-CoV-2 specific IgM, and IgG antibodies in the collected serum specimens were measured by commercial ELISA kits. Results: Based on the clinical manifestations, 25.0%, 47.2%, and 27.8% of HCWs were categorized as symptomatic with typical symptoms, symptomatic with atypical symptoms, and asymptomatic, respectively. Symptomatic individuals with typical and atypical symptoms were 63.2% and 36.8% positive in RT-PCR test, respectively. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 15.3% and 27.8% of HCWs samples, respectively. Antibody testing in the general population indicated that SARS-CoV-2 specific IgM and IgG were found in (162/2021) 8%, and (290/2021) 14.4%, respectively. The frequency of positive cases of IgM and IgG were significantly increased in HCWs compared to general population (p= 0.028 for IgM and p= 0.002 for IgG). Conclusion: The frequency of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in HCWs was higher than general population indicating a higher viral transmission via close exposure with COVID-19 patients.
