Irène A. Abela
A5030181705- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- HIV Research and Treatment
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- HIV-related health complications and treatments
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
- COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Renal Transplantation Outcomes and Treatments
University of Zurich
2010-2025
University Hospital of Zurich
2011-2025
University of Bern
2022-2024
University Hospital of Bern
2022-2024
Hospices Civils de Lyon
2024
University of Basel
2022-2023
Roche (Switzerland)
2023
Gilead Sciences (Germany)
2023
Kantonsspital Baselland
2022-2023
ViiV Healthcare (Spain)
2023
Abstract Background Advancements in access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care have led a decline AIDS-related deaths among people with HIV (PWH) Switzerland. However, data on the ongoing changes causes of death PWH over past 15 years are scarce. Methods We investigated all reported Swiss Cohort Study between 2005 2022. Causes were categorized using Coding Death protocol. The statistical analysis included demographic stratification identify time trends...
HIV is known to spread efficiently both in a cell-free state and from cell cell, however the relative importance of cell-cell transmission mode natural infection has not yet been resolved. Likewise what extent vulnerable inhibition by neutralizing antibodies entry inhibitors remains be determined. Here we report on antibody activity during using specifically tailored experimental strategies which enable unambiguous discrimination between two routes. We demonstrate that monoclonal (mAbs)...
Background and Purpose: Case series indicating cerebrovascular disorders in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been published. Comprehensive workups, including clinical characteristics, laboratory, electroencephalography, neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid findings, are needed to understand the mechanisms. Methods: We evaluated 32 consecutive critically ill patients with COVID-19 treated at a tertiary care center from March 9 April 3, 2020, for concomitant severe central nervous system...
To examine longitudinal changes in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence and to determine the clustering of children who were seropositive within school classes canton Zurich, Switzerland from June November 2020.Prospective cohort study.Switzerland had one highest second waves SARS-CoV-2 pandemic Europe autumn 2020. Keeping schools open provided a moderate high exposure environment study infections. Children randomly selected classes, stratified by...
Autoantibodies neutralizing the antiviral action of type I interferons (IFNs) have been associated with predisposition to severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we screened for such autoantibodies in 103 critically ill COVID-19 patients a tertiary intensive care unit (ICU) Switzerland. Eleven (10.7%), but no healthy donors, had anti-IFNα or anti-IFNα/anti-IFNω IgG plasma/serum, anti-IFN IgM IgA was rare. One patient non-neutralizing IgG. Strikingly, all plasma also...
Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been rapidly approved. Although pivotal studies were conducted in healthy volunteers, little information is available on the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines immunocompromised patients, including recipients allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Here we used a novel assay to analyze patient- transplantation-related factors their influence immune responses vaccination over an extended period (up 6 months) large homogenous group allo-HCT...
Abstract People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) have significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease in part due to inflammation and immune dysregulation. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), the age-related acquisition expansion hematopoietic stem cells leukemogenic driver mutations, increases both hematologic malignancy coronary artery (CAD). Since is hypothesized be a cause consequence CHIP, we that PLWH greater prevalence CHIP. We searched CHIP...
Abstract Background Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) have been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. We investigated the impact of starting INSTI-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) on CVD events among treatment-naïve people human immunodeficiency virus using a target trial framework, which reduces potential confounding and selection bias. Methods included Swiss HIV Cohort Study participants who were ART-naïve after May 2008, when INSTIs...
The efficacy and tolerability of long-acting cabotegravir rilpivirine were demonstrated in Phase III trials. However, low concentrations combined with other risk factors have been associated an increased virologic failure. This study aims to verify whether drug measured a real-world setting are consistent those previously reported.
Autoantibodies neutralizing type I interferons (IFN-Is) can underlie infection severity. Here, we trace the development of these autoantibodies at high-resolution using longitudinal samples from 1,876 well-treated individuals living with HIV over a 35-year period. Similar to general populations, ∼1.9% acquired anti-IFN-I as they aged (median onset ∼63 years). Once detected, persisted lifelong, and titers increased decades. Individuals developed distinct non-neutralizing autoantibody...
Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-related weight gain is of particular concern in people with HIV (PWH). Although was observed among PWH receiving tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), little known about the potential reversibility after TAF discontinuation. We evaluated and metabolic changes 12 months discontinuation Swiss Cohort Study.
Interference with virus entry is known to be the principle mechanism of HIV neutralization by antibodies, including 2F5 and 4E10, which bind membrane-proximal external region (MPER) gp41 envelope protein. However, date, precise molecular events underlying MPER-specific antibodies remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated capacity these irrevocably sterilize virions. Long-term effects on virions can differ, rendering either reversible or irreversible. irreversibly...
Since entering the human population, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; causative agent of Disease 2019 [COVID-19]) has spread worldwide, causing >100 million infections and >2 deaths. While large-scale sequencing efforts have identified numerous genetic variants in SARS-CoV-2 during its circulation, it remains largely unclear whether many these changes impact adaptation, replication, or transmission virus. Here, we characterized 14 different low-passage...
Abstract Determination of SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in the context pre-existing immunity to circulating human coronavirus (HCoV) is critical for understanding protective immunity. Here we perform a multifactorial analysis and HCoV pre-pandemic ( N = 825) SARS-CoV-2-infected donors 389) using custom-designed multiplex ABCORA assay. seroprofiling, when combined with computational modeling, enables accurate definition seroconversion prediction neutralization activity, reveals intriguing...
BNT162b2 by Pfizer-BioNTech and mRNA-1273 Moderna are the most commonly used vaccines to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Head-to-head comparison of efficacy these in immunocompromised patients is lacking.Parallel, 2-arm (allocation 1:1), open-label, noninferiority randomized clinical trial nested into Swiss HIV Cohort Study Transplant Study. People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) or solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR; ie,...
BACKGROUND. Neutralizing antibodies are considered a key correlate of protection by current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The manner in which human infections respond to therapeutic antibodies, including convalescent plasma therapy, remains be fully elucidated.
Abstract Objectives This longitudinal cohort study aims to assess the extent and patterns of seroprevalence severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in school-attending children, their parents school personnel. It will examine risk factors for infection, relationship between seropositivity symptoms, temporal persistence antibodies. Methods The ( Ciao Corona ) enroll a regionally representative, random sample schools canton Zurich, where 18% Swiss population...
Few studies have explored the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in schools 2021, with advent variants concern. We aimed to examine evolution proportion seropositive children at from June-July 2020 March-April 2021. also examined symptoms, under-detection infections, potential preventive effect face masks, and reasons for non-participation study.Children lower (7–10 years), middle (8–13 years) upper (12–17 school levels randomly selected classes canton Zurich, Switzerland, were invited participate...
Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading globally and causes most frequently fever symptoms, i.e. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), however, distinct neurological syndromes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been described. Among SARS-CoV-2-infections-associated symptoms fatigue, headache, dizziness, impaired consciousness anosmia/ageusia are frequent, but less frequent deficits such as seizures, Guillain-Barré or ataxia may also...
T-cell response plays an important role in SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity. For people living with HIV (PWH) and solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients there is limited evidence on the reliability of commercially available tests. We assessed 173 blood samples from 81 participants (62 35 PWH; 111 46 SOT [lung kidney]) two commercial Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release assays (IGRA; IGRA by Euroimmun, Roche). The between tests was judged as low (Cohen’s kappa [κ] = 0.20; overall percent agreement [OPA]...
Autoantibodies neutralizing type I interferons (IFN-Is; IFNα or IFNω) exacerbate severe viral disease, but specific treatments are unavailable. With footprint profiling, we delineate two dominant IFN-I faces commonly recognized by autoantibody–containing plasmas from aged individuals with HIV-1 and COVID-19. These overlap regions independently essential for engaging the IFNAR1/IFNAR2 heterodimer, efficiently block interaction of both receptor subunits in vitro. In contrast, non-neutralizing...
The longitudinal, nationwide Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS) follows > 92% of all transplant recipients with comprehensive data collection tailored to overall and organ-specific outcomes. infectious disease events are assembled under the auspices ID specialists using common definitions. With over 6000 active patients a median follow-up exceeding 6 years, cohort offers unique platform for understanding real-world epidemiology in transplanted patients. Beyond observational analysis, STCS...
Objectives To determine the variation in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence school children and relationship with self-reported symptoms. Design Baseline measurements of a longitudinal cohort study ( Ciao Corona ) from June to July 2020. Setting 55 schools stratified by district canton Zurich, Switzerland. Participants 2585 (1339 girls; median age: 11 years, age range: 6–16 years), attending grades 1–2, 4–5 7–8. Main outcome measures Variation across 12 cantonal districts, grades, assessed using...