Mouse IgG1/IgG1 Isotype Control [FITC+RPE]

The gut is home to the body's largest population of plasma cells. In healthy individuals, IgA is the dominating isotype, whereas patients with inflammatory bowel disease also produce high concentrations of IgG. In the gut lumen, secretory IgA binds pathogens and toxins but also the microbiota. However, the antigen specificity of IgA and IgG for the microbiota and underlying mechanisms of antibody binding to bacteria are largely unknown. Here we show that microbiota binding is a defining property of human intestinal antibodies in both healthy and inflamed gut. Some bacterial taxa were commonly targeted by different monoclonal antibodies, whereas others selectively bound single antibodies. Interestingly, individual human monoclonal antibodies from both healthy and inflamed intestines bound phylogenetically unrelated bacterial species. This microbiota cross-species reactivity did not correlate with antibody polyreactivity but was crucially dependent on the accumulation of somatic mutations. Therefore, our data suggest that a system of affinity-matured, microbiota cross-species-reactive IgA is a common aspect of SIgA-microbiota interactions in the gut.

Objectives To examine the added value of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing in a nursing home during an acute COVID-19 outbreak. RT-PCR is the gold standard, but can be false-negative. Methods 119 residents and 93 staff members were tested with RT-PCR test and/or a rapid IgM/IgG test. Of these participants, 176 had both tests, 24 only RT-PCR, and 12 only IgM/IgG in the period April 14 to 16 April 2020. Results 40 (34%) residents and 11 (13%) staff were PCR-positive. Using a rapid IgM/IgG test, 17 (17%) residents and 18 (20%) staff were positive for IgM and/or IgG (IgM/IgG). Thirty-two PCR-positive residents had an IgM/IgG test: 9 (28%), 11 (34%), and 13 (41%) were positive for IgM, IgG, and IgM/IgG. Ten PCR-positive staff had an IgM/IgG test: 3 (30%), 6 (60%), and 6 (60%) were positive for IgM, IgG, and IgM/IgG. Additional IgM/IgG tests were performed in 9 residents 11 to 14 days after the positive RT-PCR test. Of those, 7 (78%) tested positive for IgM/IgG. When retested 3 weeks later, the 2 remaining residents also tested positive. Of the 134 PCR-negative participants who had an IgM/IgG test, 15 were positive for IgM/IgG (8% of the 200 participants tested with RT-PCR). Conclusions During an acute outbreak in a nursing home, 26% of residents and staff were PCR-positive. An additional 8% was diagnosed using IgM/IgG antibody testing. The use of RT-PCR alone as the sole diagnostic method for surveillance during an acute outbreak is insufficient to grab the full extent of the outbreak.