A time-resolved proteomic and prognostic map of COVID-19

COVID-19 is highly variable in its clinical presentation, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe organ damage and death. We characterized the time-dependent progression of the disease in 139 COVID-19 inpatients by measuring 86 accredited diagnostic parameters, such as blood cell counts and enzyme activities, as well as untargeted plasma proteomes at 687 sampling points. We report an initial spike in a systemic inflammatory response, which is gradually alleviated and followed by a protein signature indicative of tissue repair, metabolic reconstitution, and immunomodulation. We identify prognostic marker signatures for devising risk-adapted treatment strategies and use machine learning to classify therapeutic needs. We show that the machine learning models based on the proteome are transferable to an independent cohort. Our study presents a map linking routinely used clinical diagnostic parameters to plasma proteomes and their dynamics in an infectious disease

Clinical and virological characteristics of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in a German tertiary care centre during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a prospective observational study

Purpose: Adequate patient allocation is pivotal for optimal resource management in strained healthcare systems, and requires detailed knowledge of clinical and virological disease trajectories. The purpose of this work was to identify risk factors associated with need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), to analyse viral kinetics in patients with and without IMV and to provide a comprehensive description of clinical course. Methods: A cohort of 168 hospitalised adult COVID-19 patients enrolled in a prospective observational study at a large European tertiary care centre was analysed. Results: Forty-four per cent (71/161) of patients required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Shorter duration of symptoms before admission (aOR 1.22 per day less, 95% CI 1.10-1.37, p < 0.01) and history of hypertension (aOR 5.55, 95% CI 2.00-16.82, p < 0.01) were associated with need for IMV. Patients on IMV had higher maximal concentrations, slower decline rates, and longer shedding of SARS-CoV-2 than non-IMV patients (33 days, IQR 26-46.75, vs 18 days, IQR 16-46.75, respectively, p < 0.01). Median duration of hospitalisation was 9 days (IQR 6-15.5) for non-IMV and 49.5 days (IQR 36.8-82.5) for IMV patients. Conclusions: Our results indicate a short duration of symptoms before admission as a risk factor for severe disease that merits further investigation and different viral load kinetics in severely affected patients. Median duration of hospitalisation of IMV patients was longer than described for acute respiratory distress syndrome unrelated to COVID-19

Guidelines for the use of flow cytometry and cell sorting in immunological studies (second edition)

These guidelines are a consensus work of a considerable number of members of the immunology and flow cytometry community. They provide the theory and key practical aspects of flow cytometry enabling immunologists to avoid the common errors that often undermine immunological data. Notably, there are comprehensive sections of all major immune cell types with helpful Tables detailing phenotypes in murine and human cells. The latest flow cytometry techniques and applications are also described, featuring examples of the data that can be generated and, importantly, how the data can be analysed. Furthermore, there are sections detailing tips, tricks and pitfalls to avoid, all written and peer-reviewed by leading experts in the field, making this an essential research companion

Long-term clopidogrel administration following severe coronary injury reduces proliferation and inflammation via inhibition of nuclear factor-κB and activator protein 1 activation in pigs

BACKGROUND:The optimal duration of clopidogrel treatment following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the patient population that would benefit most are still unknown. In a porcine coronary injury model, we tested two different durations of clopidogrel treatment on severely or moderately injured arteries and examined the arterial response to injury. To understand the molecular mechanism, we also investigated the effects on transcription factors nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-{kappa}B) and activator protein 1 (AP-1). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 24 cross-bred pigs, one coronary artery was only moderately injured by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and one coronary artery was severely injured by PTCA and subsequent beta-irradiation (Brachy group). Animals received 325 mg aspirin daily for 3 months and 75 mg clopidogrel daily for either 28 days [short-term (ST) clopidogrel group] or 3 months [long-term (LT) clopidogrel group]. RESULTS: After 3 months, the number of proliferating cells per cross-section differed significantly between ST and LT in both injury groups (PTCA(ST) 90.2 +/- 10.3 vs. PTCA(LT )19.2 +/- 4.7, P < 0.05; Brachy(ST) 35.8 +/- 8.4 vs. Brachy(LT) 7.5 +/- 2.0, P < 0.05). Similar results were seen for inflammatory cells (CD3(+) cells): PTCA(ST) 23.5 +/- 3.55 vs. PTCA(LT )4.67 +/- 0.92, P < 0.05; Brachy(ST) 83.17 +/- 11.17 vs. Brachy(LT) 20 +/- 4.82, P < 0.05). Long-term administration also reduced the activity of NF-kappaB and AP-1 by 62-64% and 42-58%, respectively. However, the effects of different durations of clopidogrel administration on artery dimensions were not statistically significant.CONCLUSIONS: Regarding inflammation and transcription factor activity at the PCI site, long-term clopidogrel administration is superior to short-term administration, especially in severely injured arteries. Transferring our results to the human situation, patients with more severely diseased arteries may benefit from a prolonged clopidogrel medication after PCI

Delayed Antibody and T-Cell Response to BNT162b2 Vaccination in the Elderly, Germany

We detected delayed and reduced antibody and T-cell responses after BNT162b2 vaccination in 71 elderly persons (median age 81 years) compared with 123 healthcare workers (median age 34 years) in Germany. These data emphasize that nonpharmaceutical interventions for coronavirus disease remain crucial and that additional immunizations for the elderly might become necessary.Peer Reviewe

Process Development of the BACE Inhibitors BI 1147560 BS and BI 1181181 MZ

The development of large-scale syntheses of two beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitors is described. New methodologies were discovered to overcome safety and scalability problems with existing procedures. The sterically hindered quaternary, neopentyl stereocenter was formed in high diastereoselectivity by the addition of a carbamoyl anion to an N-sulfinyl ketimine. An aryl nitrile was installed by a palladium- and cyanide-free electrophilic cyanation affected by transnitrilation of an arylmagnesium derivative with dimethylmalononitrile. A safe route to an oxetanylmethylamine side chain was devised based on diethyl malonate and dibenzylamine starting materials. A mild enamine fluorination was developed for the synthesis of a fluoroisobutylamine side chain

Process Development of the BACE Inhibitors BI 1147560 BS and BI 1181181 MZ

The development of large-scale syntheses of two beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitors is described. New methodologies were discovered to overcome safety and scalability problems with existing procedures. The sterically hindered quaternary, neopentyl stereocenter was formed in high diastereoselectivity by the addition of a carbamoyl anion to an N-sulfinyl ketimine. An aryl nitrile was installed by a palladium- and cyanide-free electrophilic cyanation affected by transnitrilation of an arylmagnesium derivative with dimethylmalononitrile. A safe route to an oxetanylmethylamine side chain was devised based on diethyl malonate and dibenzylamine starting materials. A mild enamine fluorination was developed for the synthesis of a fluoroisobutylamine side chain

Process Development of the BACE Inhibitors BI 1147560 BS and BI 1181181 MZ

The development of large-scale syntheses of two beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitors is described. New methodologies were discovered to overcome safety and scalability problems with existing procedures. The sterically hindered quaternary, neopentyl stereocenter was formed in high diastereoselectivity by the addition of a carbamoyl anion to an N-sulfinyl ketimine. An aryl nitrile was installed by a palladium- and cyanide-free electrophilic cyanation affected by transnitrilation of an arylmagnesium derivative with dimethylmalononitrile. A safe route to an oxetanylmethylamine side chain was devised based on diethyl malonate and dibenzylamine starting materials. A mild enamine fluorination was developed for the synthesis of a fluoroisobutylamine side chain

Process Development of the BACE Inhibitors BI 1147560 BS and BI 1181181 MZ

The development of large-scale syntheses of two beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitors is described. New methodologies were discovered to overcome safety and scalability problems with existing procedures. The sterically hindered quaternary, neopentyl stereocenter was formed in high diastereoselectivity by the addition of a carbamoyl anion to an N-sulfinyl ketimine. An aryl nitrile was installed by a palladium- and cyanide-free electrophilic cyanation affected by transnitrilation of an arylmagnesium derivative with dimethylmalononitrile. A safe route to an oxetanylmethylamine side chain was devised based on diethyl malonate and dibenzylamine starting materials. A mild enamine fluorination was developed for the synthesis of a fluoroisobutylamine side chain

A time-resolved proteomic and prognostic map of COVID-19

COVID-19 is highly variable in its clinical presentation, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe organ damage and death. We characterized the time-dependent progression of the disease in 139 COVID-19 inpatients by measuring 86 accredited diagnostic parameters, such as blood cell counts and enzyme activities, as well as untargeted plasma proteomes at 687 sampling points. We report an initial spike in a systemic inflammatory response, which is gradually alleviated and followed by a protein signature indicative of tissue repair, metabolic reconstitution, and immunomodulation. We identify prognostic marker signatures for devising risk-adapted treatment strategies and use machine learning to classify therapeutic needs. We show that the machine learning models based on the proteome are transferable to an independent cohort. Our study presents a map linking routinely used clinical diagnostic parameters to plasma proteomes and their dynamics in an infectious disease