Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33979020›Full record

ArticleImmunity, inflammation and disease2021

A simple, sensitive, and low-cost FACS assay for detecting antibodies against the native SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

Julia Hambach, Tobias Stähler, Thomas Eden, Dorte Wendt, Natalie Tode, Friedrich Haag, Eva Tolosa, Marcus Altfeld, Anahita Fathi, Christine Dahlke and 3 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Immunity, inflammation and disease, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 40% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Julia HambachInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Tobias StählerInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Thomas EdenInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Dorte WendtInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Natalie TodeInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Friedrich HaagInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Eva TolosaInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Marcus AltfeldInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-5972-2997
Anahita FathiSection Infectious Diseases, I. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Christine DahlkeSection Infectious Diseases, I. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Marylyn M AddoSection Infectious Diseases, I. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Stephan MenzelInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Friedrich Koch-NolteInstitute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-1730-6674
Universität Hamburg · DELeibniz Institute of Virology (LIV) · DE

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB1328-A10Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB1328-A14Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB1328-Z02Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung 1.921
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHamburg is a city state of approximately 1.9 Mio inhabitants in Northern Germany. Currently, the COVID-19 epidemic that had largely subsided during last summer is resurging in Hamburg and in other parts of the world, underlining the need for additional tools to monitor SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses.

aimWe aimed to develop and validate a simple, low-cost assay for detecting antibodies against the native coronavirus 2 spike protein (CoV-2 S) that does not require recombinant protein or virus.

methodWe transiently co-transfected HEK cells or CHO cells with expression vectors encoding CoV-2 S and nuclear GFP. Spike protein-specific antibodies in human serum samples bound to transfected cells were detected with fluorochrome conjugated secondary antibodies by flow cytometry orimmunofluorescence microscopy. We applied this assay to monitor antibody development in COVID-19 patients, household contacts, and hospital personnel during the ongoing epidemic in the city state of Hamburg.

resultsAll recovered COVID-19 patients showed high levels of CoV-2 S-specific antibodies. With one exception, all household members that did not develop symptoms also did not develop detectable antibodies. Similarly, lab personnel that worked during the epidemic and followed social distancing guidelines remained antibody-negative.

conclusionWe conclude that high-titer CoV-2 S-specific antibodies are found in most recovered COVID-19 patients and in symptomatic contacts, but only rarely in asymptomatic contacts. The assay may help health care providers to monitor disease progression and antibody responses in vaccination trials, to identify health care personnel that likely are resistant to re-infection, and recovered individuals with high antibody titers that may be suitable asplasma and/or antibody donors.

Indexed as

COVID-19Spike Glycoprotein, CoronavirusAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnimalsAntibodies, ViralCricetinaeCricetulusFlow CytometryHEK293 CellsHumansMiddle AgedSARS-CoV-2Antibodies, ViralSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2antibodiesflow cytometryinfectious diseasesvirology

Identifiers

PMID33979020
PMCPMC8239943
OpenAlexW3162042920

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.