A comprehensive, longitudinal analysis of humoral responses specific to four recombinant antigens of SARS-CoV-2 in severe and non-severe COVID-19 patients
Authors: Bin Gu
Han Shen
Yang Li
Xin Tong
Chao Wu
Yuxin Chen
Rui Huang
Jiawei Yan
Yong Liu
Journal: PLoS Pathogens (2020)
Discipline: MICROBIOLOGY
Keywords: treatment; preventive vaccine; humoral responses; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 patients
Affiliations: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China., Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China., Medical Technology School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Laboratory Diagnostics, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China., Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xuzhou Infectious Disease Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China., Department of Experimental Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Abstract:  There is an urgent need for effective treatment and preventive vaccine to contain this devastating global pandemic, which requires a comprehensive understanding of humoral responses specific to SARS-CoV-2 during the disease progression and convalescent phase of COVID-19 patients. We continuously monitored the serum IgM and IgG responses specific to four SARS-CoV-2 related antigens, including the nucleoprotein (NP), receptor binding domain (RBD), S1 protein, and ectodomain (ECD) of the spike protein among non-severe and severe COVID-19 patients for seven weeks since disease onset. Most patients generated humoral responses against NP and spike protein-related antigens but with their distinct kinetics profiles. Combined detection of NP and ECD antigens as detecting antigen synergistically improved the sensitivity of the serological assay, compared to that of using NP or RBD as detection antigen. 80.7% of convalescent sera from COVID-19 patients revealed that the varying extents of neutralization activities against SARS-CoV-2. S1-specific and ECD-specific IgA responses were strongly correlated with the neutralization activities in non-severe patients, but not in severe patients. Moreover, the neutralizing activities of the convalescent sera were shown to significantly decline during the period between 21 days to 28 days after hospital discharge, accompanied by a substantial drop in RBD-specific IgA response. Our data provide evidence that are crucial for serological testing, antibody-based intervention, and vaccine design of COVID-19. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 4(b).  RTu2010qPCR and western blot analysis detected that the expression of miRu2010590u20105p, Wntu2013u03b2u2010catenin signaling pathwayu2013related genes and EMTu2010related genes in human breast cancer tissues, and adjacent normal tissues. ... (b) Gray value of PITX2, Wntu20101, u03b2u2010catenin, Eu2010cadherin, Nu2010cadherin, GAPDH, and vimentin in breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues . ![file] At right - 6B from [Zhou et al (2018)] . The protein blobs seem to be coming from the same restricted repertoire. , 
 Fig 7(c).  The determinations by RTu2010qPCR and western blot analysis show that overexpressed miRu2010590u20105p or downregulated PITX2 regulate the Wntu2013u03b2u2010catenin signaling pathway....(c) Protein expression of miRu2010590u20105p, Wntu20101, u03b2u2010catenin, Nu2010cadherin, and vimentin was downregulated in miRu2010590u20105p mimic and siu2010PITX2 groups . ![file] I am intrigued by the absence of background on these WBs, and the way the bands remain perfectly linear and retain the shape of the protein blobs as they move up the gel. Is it possible for the authors to upload the original scans of the gels? , 
 Retracted [20 July 2021] . ---------------------------------------------- The above article, published online on 07 September 2018 in Wiley Online Library has been retracted by agreement between the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Gregg Fields, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation based on allegations raised by a third party. A detailed investigation revealed that several image elements of the experimental data were published elsewhere in a different scientific context. Thus, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. ,