A5084264424- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Infectious Encephalopathies and Encephalitis
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
University of Bern
2016-2025
University Hospital of Bern
2021-2022
Medical University of Vienna
2021
Innsbruck Medical University
2021
Erasmus MC
2017
B-cell-depleting therapies increase the risk of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19. Evidence-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccination strategies for patients on are scarce. We aimed investigate humoral cell-mediated immune responses mRNA-based vaccines in receiving CD20-targeted agents autoimmune disease, malignancy, or transplantation.The RituxiVac study was an investigator-initiated, single-centre, open-label done at Bern University Hospital (Bern, Switzerland). Patients with a treatment history...
Abstract Background The use of assays detecting cytomegalovirus (CMV)–specific T cell–mediated immunity may individualize the duration antiviral prophylaxis after transplantation. Methods In this randomized trial, kidney and liver transplant recipients from 6 centers in Switzerland were enrolled if they CMV-seronegative with seropositive donors or CMV-seropositive receiving antithymocyte globulins. Patients to a based on immune monitoring (intervention) fixed (control). control group planned...
The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 lineages B.1.1.7 (N501Y.V1) throughout UK, B.1.351 (N501Y.V2) in South Africa, and P.1 (B.1.1.28.1; N501Y.V3) Brazil has led to definition variants concern (VoCs) recommendations for lineage specific surveillance. In Switzerland, during last weeks December 2020, we established a nationwide screening protocol across multiple laboratories, focusing first on epidemiological microbiological definitions. January 2021, validated implemented an N501Y-specific PCR...
Abstract Background and Aims A high prevalence of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection, the most severe form viral hepatitis, has been reported among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in Europe. We analysed data from a large cohort collaboration to characterize HDV epidemiological trends across Europe, as well its impact on clinical outcomes. Methods All PLWH positive B surface antigen (HBsAg) Swiss Cohort Study EuroSIDA between 1988 2019 were tested for anti‐HDV antibodies and, if positive,...
Background: Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a biomarker for neuro-axonal injury. Objectives: To assess sNfL’s utility as diagnostic marker Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). Methods: We compared serum and CSF NfL levels in LNB patients age-matched controls. Age-adjusted values were used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Results: Eighty-six (30 LNB, 29 with-, 27 without neurological disorders) included. Compared to individuals disease,...
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss is a rare event among persons with hepatitis virus (HBV) monoinfection but seems to happen more frequently in people HIV (PWH). We assessed the proportion of PWH/HBV coinfection who experienced HBsAg during long-term tenofovir-therapy and evaluated its association quantitative (qHBsAg) levels at tenofovir start. All Swiss Cohort Study participants two or positive measurements than 6 months apart, least 4 years tenofovir-containing antiretroviral...
Enteroviruses affect millions of people worldwide and are significant clinical importance. The standard method for enterovirus identification genotyping still relies on Sanger sequencing short diagnostic amplicons. In this study, we assessed the feasibility nanopore using new flow cell “Flongle” fast, cost-effective, accurate human enteroviruses from samples. PCR amplification partial VP1 gene was performed multiple patient samples, which were multiplexed together after barcoding sequenced...
Background: Human adenovirus (HAdV) is an important pathogen seen in clinical practice.Long-term studies may help better understand epidemiological trends and changes circulating genotypes over time.Purpose: Using a large biobank of samples from hospitalized, adenovirus-positive patients 20-year period, we aimed to analyze long-term genotypic relatedness among HAdV strains.Methods: Based on hospitalized confirmed be positive Bern, Switzerland, 1998 2017, their associated demographic data,...
Abstract Ganciclovir (GCV)‐resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common problem among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients without prior CMV immunity (CMV D+/R−). GCV‐resistant represents particular challenge for management. Letermovir recently licensed antiviral agent primary prophylaxis in allogenic hematopoietic stem cell (HSCT) recipients. Given the favorable safety profile and its oral bioavailability letermovir may be considered valuable off‐label option secondary of SOT...
The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, corresponding to the Pangolin lineage B.1.617.2, was first detected in India July 2020 and rapidly became dominant worldwide. ARTIC v3 protocol for whole-genome sequencing, which relies on a large number of PCR primers, among available early pandemic, but may be prone coverage dropouts that result incomplete genome sequences. A new set primers (v4) designed circumvent this issue June 2021. In study, we investigated whether sequencing community adopted sets...
Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is a frequent manifestation of disease in children and its current diagnosis has limitations. The elevation the chemokine CXCL13 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) adult patients with LNB been demonstrated suggested as new diagnostic marker. Our aim was to evaluate this marker CSF suspected determine cut-off concentration that would discriminate between other central nervous system (CNS) infections.For single-center retrospective case-control study we used...
Depending on geographic location, causes of encephalitis, meningoencephalitis and meningitis vary substantially. We aimed to identify the most frequent causes, clinical presentation long-term outcome cases treated in Inselspital University Hospital Bern, Switzerland.In this monocentric, observational study, we performed a retrospective review patient records for all patients within 3-year period. Patients were contacted telephone follow-up interview fill out questionnaires, especially...
In coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients, there is increasing evidence of neuronal injury by the means elevated serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels. However, role systemic inflammation and severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific immune response with regard to has not yet been investigated.In a prospective cohort study, we recruited patients mild-moderate (n = 39) 14) COVID-19 measured sNfL levels, cytokine concentrations, SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies...
Background The majority of patients with B-cell-depleting therapies show compromised vaccination-induced immune responses. Herein, we report on the trajectories anti-SARS-CoV-2 responses in RituxiVac study compared healthy volunteers and investigate immunogenicity a third vaccination previously humoral non-responding patients. Methods We investigated cell-mediated response after SARS-CoV-2 messanger RNA history anti-CD20 therapies. Coprimary outcomes were antispike SARS-CoV-2-stimulated...
Serological tests are a powerful tool in the monitoring of infectious diseases and detection host immunity. However, manufacturers often provide diagnostic accuracy data generated through biased studies, performance clinical practice is essentially unclear.We aimed to determine various serological testing strategies for (a) identification patients with previous coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) (b) prediction neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 real-life settings.We prospectively...
We analyzed changes in hepatitis B virus and delta (HDV) viral loads (VL) during tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy among patients with a replicating HDV infection the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Only 28.6% experienced ≥2.0 log reduction RNA, 14.3% had undetectable VL within 5 years.
ObjectivesHighly pathogenic viruses such as EBOV are a threat to routine laboratory workers. Inactivation procedures with Triton X-100 0.1% and/or heat currently recommended, but have unknown effects on the accuracy of serological testing. Furthermore, virus inactivation by was shown be ineffective in serum. This study aimed demonstrate serum 1% and maintained testing.MethodsA panel 19 tests run patient samples after treatment 1%, 0.1%, + at 60°C for 1 h. Mean differences between...
ABSTRACT The simultaneous determination of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in QuantiFERON-TB test plasma supernatants permitted the detection shifts Mycobacterium tuberculosis -specific T-cell signatures. A subset 84 subjects tested revealed a significantly elevated IL-2/IFN-γ ratio, which may be marker for successful elimination M. infection.
Enteroviruses are small RNA viruses that affect millions of people each year by causing an important burden disease with a broad spectrum symptoms. In routine diagnostic laboratories, enteroviruses identified PCR-based methods, often combined partial sequencing for genotyping. this proof-of-principle study, we assessed direct (DRS) using nanopore technology fast whole-genome directly from clinical samples. The approach was complemented the corresponding viral cDNA via Illumina MiSeq...