Unexpected detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in prepandemic Italy

Giovanni Apolone*, Emanuele Montomoli*, Alessandro Manenti,

Mattia Boeri, Federica Sabia, Inesa Hyseni, Livia Mazzini, Donata Martinuzzi, Laura Cantone, Gianluca Milanese, Stefano Sestini, Paola Suatoni, Alfonso Marchianò, Valentina Bollati, Gabriella Sozzi, Ugo Pastorino

https://doi.org/10.1177/0300891620974755

Abstract

There are no robust data on the real onset of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and spread in the prepandemic period worldwide. We investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD)–specific antibodies in blood samples of 959 asymptomatic individuals enrolled in a prospective lung cancer screening trial between September 2019 and March 2020 to track the date of onset, frequency, and temporal and geographic variations across the Italian regions. SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific antibodies were detected in 111 of 959 (11.6%) individuals, starting from September 2019 (14%), with a cluster of positive cases (>30%) in the second week of February 2020 and the highest number (53.2%) in Lombardy. This study shows an unexpected very early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 among asymptomatic individuals in Italy several months before the first patient was identified, and clarifies the onset and spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Finding SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in asymptomatic people before the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy may reshape the history of pandemic.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0300891620974755

Nearly 2 in 5 Americans will Likely Attend Large Holiday Gatherings

This holiday season comes with a lot of worry and stress as families try to find ways to balance their desire to celebrate together with the risk of spreading COVID-19. While cases of the virus remain high, colder weather across the country is forcing gatherings indoors, where the virus can more easily spread. A new national survey by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds that although the vast majority of Americans plan to put precautions in place at holiday gatherings, such as social distancing and asking those with COVID symptoms not to attend, many will also be putting themselves at risk. Nearly two in five report they will likely attend a gathering with more than 10 people and a third will not ask guests to wear masks.

“We’re going to look back at what happened during this holiday season and ask ourselves, ‘Were we part of the solution or were we part of the problem?’” said Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief quality and patient safety officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “When you’re gathered together around the table, engaged in conversation, sitting less than 6 feet apart with your masks down, even in a small group, that’s when the spread of this virus can really happen.”

Gonsenhauser says the safest solution is the one that people don’t want to hear: find ways to communicate virtually and cancel in-person plans. However, if you do decide to have guests, it’s important to have a plan in place and to communicate that plan to everyone attending. Consider separating seating arrangements by household and, if you plan to travel or welcome out-of-town guests, stay informed about the COVID-19 rates and restrictions in both locations.

“If you have somebody in your household who’s high risk and you’re in a low incidence area, you’re going to want to think twice about having a celebration where people are coming from an area where there’s a lot of virus in the community,” Gonsenhauser said.

While celebrations will certainly look different this year, Gonsenhauser says it can also be an opportunity to make treasured memories with loved ones and experiment with new traditions. Try a virtual dinner or gift exchange or drop off surprise treats on friends’ and family members’ door steps.

http://osuwmc.multimedia-newsroom.com/index.php/2020/11/12/survey-nearly-2-in-5-americans-will-likely-attend-large-holiday-gatherings/

SARS-CoV-2: Proof of recombination between strains, emergence of possibly more virulent ones

Dania Haddad, Sumi Elsa John, View ORCID ProfileAnwar Mohammad, View ORCID ProfileMaha M Hammad, View ORCID ProfilePrashantha Hebbar, Arshad Channanath, Rasheeba Nizam, Sarah Al-Qabandi, View ORCID ProfileAshraf Al Madhoun, View ORCID ProfileAbdullah Alshukry, View ORCID ProfileHamad Ali, Thangavel Alphonse Thanaraj, View ORCID ProfileFahd Al-Mulla

doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.11.20229765

This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review [what does this mean?]. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice.

PDF: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.11.20229765v1.full.pdf

Abstract

COVID-19 is challenging healthcare preparedness, world economies, and livelihoods. The infection and death rates associated with this pandemic are strikingly variable in different countries. To elucidate this discrepancy, we analyzed 2431 early spread SARS-CoV-2 sequences from GISAID. We estimated continental-wise admixture proportions, assessed haplotype block estimation, and tested for the presence or absence of strains recombination. Herein, we identified 1010 unique missense mutations and seven different SARS-CoV-2 clusters. In samples from Asia, a small haplotype block was identified; whereas, samples from Europe and North America harbored large and different haplotype blocks with nonsynonymous variants. Variant frequency and linkage disequilibrium varied among continents, especially in North America. Recombination between different strains was only observed in North American and European sequences. Additionally, we structurally modeled the two most common mutations D614G and P314L which suggested that these linked mutations may enhance viral entry and stability. Overall, we propose that COVID-19 virulence may be more severe in Europe and North America due to coinfection with different SARS-CoV-2 strains leading to genomic recombination which might be challenging for current treatment regimens and vaccine development. Furthermore, our study provides a possible explanation for the more severe second wave of COVID-19 that many countries are currently experiencing presented as higher rates of infection and death.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Funding Statement

This work was supported by Coronavirus emergency resilience grant from Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences.

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.11.20229765v1