A5048953403- HIV Research and Treatment
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Hepatitis C virus research
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Blood groups and transfusion
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde
2012-2024
University of Antwerp
2005-2022
Luxembourg Institute of Health
2017
Ghent University Hospital
2017
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
2009-2011
Institute of Virology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
1994-2000
Progamme National Contre le Tuberculose
1996
Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement
1996
Libreville Hospital
1994
Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
1994
Background Neutralizing antibodies provide markers for vaccine-induced protective immunity in many viral infections. By analogy, HIV-1 neutralizing induced by immunization may well predict vaccine effectiveness. Assessment of is therefore primary importance, but hampered the fact that we do not know which assay(s) can measures immunity. An international collaboration (NeutNet) involving 18 different laboratories previously compared assays using monoclonal (mAbs) and soluble CD4 (Phase I...
Large-scale serosurveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) will only be possible if serological tests are sufficiently reliable, rapid and affordable. Many assays either labour-intensive require specialised facilities (e.g. virus neutralization assays), or expensive with suboptimal specificity commercial ELISAs RDTs). Bead-based offer a cost-effective alternative allow for multiplexing to test antibodies against multiple antigens other pathogens. Here,...
We report the levels of neutralising antibodies against Wuhan, Delta and Omicron variants in unimmunized infected (group 1), immunised boosted 2) 3) adult individuals. Our observations support rapid administration a booster vaccine dose to prevent infection disease caused by Omicron.
Self-amplifying RNA vaccines may induce equivalent or more potent immune responses at lower doses compared to non-replicating mRNA via amplified antigen expression. In this paper, we demonstrate that 1 μg of an LNP-formulated dual-antigen self-amplifying vaccine (ZIP1642), encoding both the S-RBD and N antigen, elicits considerably higher neutralizing antibody titers against Wuhan-like Beta B.1.351 Delta B.1.617.2 SARS-CoV-2 variants those convalescent patients. addition, ZIP1642 vaccination...
Objective The only two HIV-1 strains (ANT70 and MVP5180) reported to date from Cameroon are members of the outlier clade (group O). In this study, we assessed prevalence group O viruses other subtypes in Cameroon. Design A phylogenetic analysis 18 isolated seropositive individuals Yaoundé Douala, Methods 900 base-pair fragment env gene coding for V3, V4, V5, beginning gp41 17 out isolates was amplified, cloned sequenced using polymerase chain reaction. tree constructed. Results overall...
Background Neutralizing antibody assessments play a central role in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) vaccine development but it is unclear which assay, or combination of assays, will provide reliable measures correlates protection. To address this, an international collaboration (NeutNet) involving 18 independent participants was organized to compare different assays. Methods Each laboratory evaluated four neutralizing reagents (TriMab, 447-52D, 4E10, sCD4) at given range...
Abstract Background Factors affecting response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) recipients remain be elucidated. Methods Forty allo-HCT were included a study of immunization with BNT162b2 at days 0 and 21. Binding antibodies (Ab) receptor binding domain (RBD) assessed 0, 21, 28, 49 while neutralizing Ab against wild type (NT50) 49. Results observed patients compared those obtained 40 healthy adults naive infection. Flow cytometry...
Mpox (formerly monkeypox) is a viral disease caused by the mpox virus (MPXV), endemic in Central and West Africa currently causing global outbreak of international concern. Much remains unknown about sample types most suited for laboratory diagnosis. While it established that high loads can be found active skin lesions (currently recommended confirmation specimen type), WHO testing guidelines encourage use oropharyngeal swabs as an additional type diagnosis suggest investigating value other...
We report on the use of spectral map analysis inter- and intraclade neutralization data 14 sera human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals 16 primary isolates, representing genetic clades A to H in group M O. This multivariate has been used previously study interaction between drugs receptors viruses antiviral compounds. The reveals existence clusters, not correlated with known clades. structural factors that have identified may correlate most important epitopes. Three...
The antiviral activity of CD4 miniproteins was evaluated as potential HIV microbicides, using relevant in vitro models. Compounds were tested a single-cycle HIV-1 pseudovirus assay and against replication competent co-cultures monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MO-DC) CD4+ T cells. Cytotoxic an MTT assay. Monomeric (M47 M48) showed 50% effective concentration (EC50) values 79–105 nM subtype B, CCR5 co-receptor-using Ba-L pseudovirus. Higher found for the dimeric M48D30, M48D50 M48D100 (EC50...
SARS-CoV-2 human-to-animal transmission can lead to the establishment of novel reservoirs and evolution new variants with potential start outbreaks in humans. We tested Norway rats inhabiting sewer system Antwerp, Belgium, for presence following a local COVID-19 epidemic peak. In addition, we discuss use interpretation serological tests on non-human samples. Between November December 2020, rat oral swabs, faeces tissues from Antwerp were collected be by RT-qPCR SARS-CoV-2. Serum samples...
Residents of nursing homes (NHs) are at high risk coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related and death may respond poorly to vaccination because old age frequent comorbid conditions.Seventy-eight residents 106 staff members, naive infection or previously infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), were recruited in NHs Belgium before immunization 2 doses 30 µg BNT162b2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine days 0 21. Binding antibodies (Abs) SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain...
BACKGROUNDSARS-CoV-2 infection induces mucin overexpression, further promoting disease. Given that mucins are critical components of innate immunity, unraveling their expression profiles dictate the course disease could greatly enhance our understanding and management COVID-19.METHODSUsing validated RT-PCR assays, we assessed mRNA in blood patients with symptomatic COVID-19 compared without healthy controls correlated data clinical outcome parameters. Additionally, analyzed mucus lung tissue...
Immunogen design for HIV-1 vaccines could be based on epitope identification of naturally occurring neutralizing antibodies in infected patients. A tier 2 monoclonal antibody (mAb), HJ16 recognizes a new the CD4 binding site (CD4bs) region that only partially overlaps with b12 epitope. We aimed to identify critical by resistance induction sensitive primary CRF02_AG strain. In four independent dose-escalation studies, N276D mutation was consistently alteration found and it confirmed...
To describe prevalence and incidence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among Belgian hospital healthcare workers (HCW) in April-December 2020.
In complement to an effective vaccine, development of potent anti-HIV microbicides remains important priority. We have previously shown that the miniCD4 M48U1, a functional mimetic sCD4 presented on 27 amino-acid stable scaffold, inhibits broad range HIV-1 isolates at sub-nanomolar concentrations in cellular models. Here, we report M48U1 efficiently HIV-1Ba-L human mucosal explants cervical and colorectal tissues. vivo efficacy was evaluated nonhuman primate (NHP) model challenge with...
Background The immune system exerts a diversifying selection pressure on HIV through cellular, humoral and innate mechanisms. This drives viral evolution throughout infection. A better understanding of the natural virus during infection is warranted, given clinical interest in eliciting sustaining an response to which can help control We undertook evaluate potential novel HIV-induced, monocyte-derived factor visfatin modulate infection, as part populations. Results show that capable...
To search for the presence of SIV in sooty mangabeys and other monkey species Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, to compare viral isolates with HIV-2 strains from same region. Forty-three captive housed monkeys (28 African green monkeys, 6 mangabeys, baboons, patas monkeys) were tested HIV antibodies. Virus was isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes seropositive animals antibody-positive patients originating Ghana, Senegal, Belgium. Viruses characterized by Western blot radioimmunoprecipitation...
Microbicides based on nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are currently being developed to protect women from HIV acquisition through sexual contact. However, the large-scale introduction of these products raises two major concerns. First, when microbicides used by undiagnosed HIV-positive women, they could potentially select for viral resistance, which may compromise subsequent therapeutic options. Second, NNRTI-based that inactive against NNRTI-resistant strains might...
Abstract SARS-CoV-2 variants have continuously emerged in the face of effective vaccines. Reduced neutralization against raises questions as to whether other antibody functions are similarly compromised, or if they might compensate for lost activity. Here, breadth and potency recognition effector function is surveyed following either infection vaccination. Considering pregnant women a model cohort with higher risk severe illness death, we observe similar binding functional healthy...