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4. Safety and efficacy of faecal microbiota transplantation in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease (GUT-PARFECT): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 2 trial

Author

Bruggeman, Arnout, Vandendriessche, Charysse, Hamerlinck, Hannelore, De Looze, Danny, Tate, David J., Vuylsteke, Marnik, De Commer, Lindsey, Devolder, Lindsay, Raes, Jeroen, Verhasselt, Bruno, Laukens, Debby, Vandenbroucke, Roosmarijn E., and Santens, Patrick

Published
2024
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5. Role of the pol gene enhancer in HIV-1 transcription and replication in myeloid infected cells

Author

Journées Francophones de Virologie 2024 (XXVI: 10-12 avril 2024: Bruxelles, Belgium), Marray, Tristan, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Dutilleul, Antoine, Nestola, Lorena, Stiernon, Lara, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, Rohr, Olivier, Van Lint, Carine, Journées Francophones de Virologie 2024 (XXVI: 10-12 avril 2024: Bruxelles, Belgium), Marray, Tristan, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Dutilleul, Antoine, Nestola, Lorena, Stiernon, Lara, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, Rohr, Olivier, and Van Lint, Carine

Abstract

info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Published
2024

6. Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre.

Author

Janssen, Reile, Cuypers, Lize, Laenen, Lies, Keyaerts, Els, Beuselinck, Kurt, Janssenswillen, Sunita SLJ, Slechten, Bram, Bode, Jannes, Wollants, Elke, Van Laethem, Kristel, Rector, Annabel, Bloemen, Mandy, Sijmons, Anke, de Schaetzen, Nathalie, Capron, Arnaud, Van Baelen, Kurt, Pascal, Thierry, Vermeiren, Céline, Bureau, Fabrice, Vandesompele, Jo, De Smet, Pieter, Uten, Wouter, Malonne, Hugues, Kerkhofs, Pierre R.M.A.M., De Cock, Jo, Matheeussen, Veerle, Verhasselt, Bruno, Gillet, Laurent, Detry, Gautier, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Degosserie, Jonathan, Henin, Coralie, Pairoux, Gregor, COVID-19 Genomics Belgium Consortium, Maes, Piet, Van Ranst, Marc, Lagrou, Katrien, Dequeker, Elisabeth, André, Emmanuel, Janssen, Reile, Cuypers, Lize, Laenen, Lies, Keyaerts, Els, Beuselinck, Kurt, Janssenswillen, Sunita SLJ, Slechten, Bram, Bode, Jannes, Wollants, Elke, Van Laethem, Kristel, Rector, Annabel, Bloemen, Mandy, Sijmons, Anke, de Schaetzen, Nathalie, Capron, Arnaud, Van Baelen, Kurt, Pascal, Thierry, Vermeiren, Céline, Bureau, Fabrice, Vandesompele, Jo, De Smet, Pieter, Uten, Wouter, Malonne, Hugues, Kerkhofs, Pierre R.M.A.M., De Cock, Jo, Matheeussen, Veerle, Verhasselt, Bruno, Gillet, Laurent, Detry, Gautier, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Degosserie, Jonathan, Henin, Coralie, Pairoux, Gregor, COVID-19 Genomics Belgium Consortium, Maes, Piet, Van Ranst, Marc, Lagrou, Katrien, Dequeker, Elisabeth, and André, Emmanuel

Abstract

Since the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Belgium, UZ/KU Leuven has played a crucial role as the National Reference Centre (NRC) for respiratory pathogens, to be the first Belgian laboratory to develop and implement laboratory developed diagnostic assays for SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and later to assess the quality of commercial kits. To meet the growing demand for decentralised testing, both clinical laboratories and government-supported high-throughput platforms were gradually deployed across Belgium. Consequently, the role of the NRC transitioned from a specialised testing laboratory to strengthening capacity and coordinating quality assurance. Here, we outline the measures taken by the NRC, the national public health institute Sciensano and the executing clinical laboratories to ensure effective quality management of molecular testing throughout the initial two years of the pandemic (March 2020 to March 2022)., SCOPUS: re.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Published
2024

7. Role of the pol gene enhancer in HIV-1 transcription and replication in myeloid infected cells

Author

Interuniversity PhD Day, Stiernon, Lara, Marray, Tristan, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Dutilleul, Antoine, Nestola, Lorena, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Monceaux, Valerie, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, Rohr, Olivier, Van Lint, Carine, Interuniversity PhD Day, Stiernon, Lara, Marray, Tristan, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Dutilleul, Antoine, Nestola, Lorena, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Monceaux, Valerie, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, Rohr, Olivier, and Van Lint, Carine

Abstract

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Published
2024

9. Pooling isolates to address the diversity in antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis

Author

Van den Bossche, Sara, primary, Abatih, Emmanuel, additional, Grassi, Lucia, additional, De Broe, Emma, additional, Rigole, Petra, additional, Boelens, Jerina, additional, Van Caenegem, Joris, additional, Verhasselt, Bruno, additional, Janssens, Iris, additional, Van Braeckel, Eva, additional, Versmessen, Nick, additional, Cools, Piet, additional, Coenye, Tom, additional, and Crabbé, Aurélie, additional

Published
2023
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11. Expansion of MALDI-TOF MS database as a strategy for identification of Haemophilusspecies other than H. influenzae

Author

Willems, Eva, Hamerlinck, Hannelore, Messiaen, Anne-Sophie, Schelstraete, Petra, Van Braeckel, Eva, Vande Weygaerde, Yannick, Verhasselt, Bruno, Boelens, Jerina, and Vandendriessche, Stien

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate an expanded matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) database for the identification of Haemophilusspecies other than H. influenzae(Hi).MethodsA total of 144 Haemophilusspecies, cultured from respiratory samples from people (living) with cystic fibrosis, were identified with MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA sequencing. Of these, 99 Haemophilusstrains showed >99% similarity with the best matching strain in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database and were assigned to a single Haemophilussubspecies using both MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA sequencing. The MS profiles of a subset of strains (n = 58/99) were added to the Bruker MALDI-TOF MS database. Subsequently, 270 different strains that were analyzed previously in a routine setting were re-analyzed.Results16S rRNA sequencing reliably identified 99/144 Haemophilusstrains (>99% similarity). H. haemolyticus16S rRNA identification was suboptimal since only 3/21 H. haemolyticusstrains attained a similarity of >99% with H. haemolyticus16S rRNA sequence in the NCBI database. Expansion of the MALDI-TOF MS database improved the number of reliable identifications only moderately for H. haemolyticus, H. influenzaeand H. paraphrohaemolyticus(<10%). By contrast, improved identification was more outspoken for H.parahaemolyticus, H. parainfluenzae, H. sputorumand H. pittmaniae(>85%).Conclusion16S rRNA sequencing is a valuable method for the identification of Haemophilussp. other than Hi. Expansion of the MALDI-TOF MS database, based on 16S rRNA sequencing results, increased the proportion of reliable identifications and in this study resulted in an increase of 10% of Haemophilussp. other than Hi strain identifications.

Published
2024
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12. Investigation of an international water polo tournament in Czechia as a potential source for early introduction of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant into Belgium, Switzerland and Germany, November 2021

Author

Rudin, Christoph, primary, Bollen, Nena, additional, Hong, Samuel L, additional, Wegner, Fanny, additional, Politi, Lida, additional, Mellou, Kassiani, additional, Geenen, Caspar, additional, Gorissen, Sarah, additional, Verhasselt, Bruno, additional, Durkin, Keith, additional, Henin, Coralie, additional, Logist, Anne-Sophie, additional, Dellicour, Simon, additional, Resa, Tobias, additional, Stadler, Tanja, additional, Maes, Piet, additional, Cuypers, Lize, additional, André, Emmanuel, additional, Egli, Adrian, additional, and Baele, Guy, additional

Published
2023
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13. Role of the pol gene enhancer in HIV-1 transcription and replication in myeloid infected cells

Author

Marray, Tristan, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Dutilleul, Antoine, Nestola, Lorena, Stiernon, Lara, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Monceaux, Valerie, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, Rohr, Olivier, Van Lint, Carine, Marray, Tristan, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Dutilleul, Antoine, Nestola, Lorena, Stiernon, Lara, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Monceaux, Valerie, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, Rohr, Olivier, and Van Lint, Carine

Abstract

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Published
2023

14. Investigation of an international water polo tournament in Czechia as a potential source for early introduction of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant into Belgium, Switzerland and Germany, November 2021.

Author

Rudin, Christoph, Bollen, Nena, Hong, Samuel Leandro, Wegner, Fanny, Politi, Lida, Mellou, Kassiani, Geenen, Caspar, Gorissen, Sarah, Verhasselt, Bruno, Durkin, Keith, Henin, Coralie, Logist, Anne Sophie, Dellicour, Simon, Resa, Tobias, Stadler, Tanja, Maes, Piet, Cuypers, Lize, André, Emmanuel, Egli, Adrian, Baele, Guy, Rudin, Christoph, Bollen, Nena, Hong, Samuel Leandro, Wegner, Fanny, Politi, Lida, Mellou, Kassiani, Geenen, Caspar, Gorissen, Sarah, Verhasselt, Bruno, Durkin, Keith, Henin, Coralie, Logist, Anne Sophie, Dellicour, Simon, Resa, Tobias, Stadler, Tanja, Maes, Piet, Cuypers, Lize, André, Emmanuel, Egli, Adrian, and Baele, Guy

Abstract

BackgroundThe earliest recognised infections by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (Pango lineage B.1.1.529) in Belgium and Switzerland suggested a connection to an international water polo tournament, held 12-14 November 2021 in Brno, Czechia.AimTo study the arrival and subsequent spread of the Omicron variant in Belgium and Switzerland, and understand the overall importance of this international sporting event on the number of infections in the two countries.MethodsWe performed intensive forward and backward contact tracing in both countries, supplemented by phylogenetic investigations using virus sequences of the suspected infection chain archived in public databases.ResultsThrough contact tracing, we identified two and one infected athletes of the Belgian and Swiss water polo teams, respectively, and subsequently also three athletes from Germany. In Belgium and Switzerland, four and three secondary infections, and three and one confirmed tertiary infections were identified. Phylogenetic investigation demonstrated that this sporting event played a role as the source of infection, but without a direct link with infections from South Africa and not as a superspreading event; the virus was found to already be circulating at that time in the countries involved.ConclusionThe SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant started to circulate in Europe several weeks before its identification in South Africa on 24 November 2021. Accordingly, it can be assumed that travel restrictions are usually implemented too late to prevent the spread of newly detected SARS-CoV-2 variants to other regions. Phylogenetic analysis may modify the perception of an apparently clear result of intensive contact tracing., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Published
2023

16. Change in COVID19 outbreak pattern following vaccination in long-term care facilities in Flanders, Belgium

Author

CREVECOEUR, Jonas, HENS, Niel, NEYENS, Thomas, Lariviere, Ynke, Verhasselt, Bruno, Masson, Hanna, Theeten, Heidi, CREVECOEUR, Jonas, HENS, Niel, NEYENS, Thomas, Lariviere, Ynke, Verhasselt, Bruno, Masson, Hanna, and Theeten, Heidi

Subjects
COVID-19 Vaccines, General Veterinary, General Immunology and Microbiology, Vaccination, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, COVID-19, Long term care facilities, Long-Term Care, Disease Outbreaks, Infectious Diseases, Belgium, Influenza, Human, Healthcare workers, Molecular Medicine, Humans, Human medicine, Pandemics, Aged
Abstract

Introduction: Long term care facilities for elderly (LTCFs) in Europe encountered a high disease burden at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, these facilities were the first to receive COVID-19 vaccines in many European countries. A limited COVID-19 vaccine supply early 2021 resulted in a majority of residents and healthcare workers (HCWs) in LTCFs being vaccinated compared to a minority in the general population. This study exploits this imbalance to assess the efficiency of COVID-19 vaccination in containing outbreaks in LTCFs. Methods: Exploratory statistics were performed using data from a COVID-19 surveillance system covering all 842 LTCFs in Flanders (the northern region of Belgium). The number and size of COVID-19 outbreaks in LTCFs were compared (1) before and after introducing vaccines and (2) with the status of the pandemic in the general population. Based on individual data from 15 LTCFs, the infection rate and symptoms of vaccinated and unvaccinated residents and HCWs were compared during a COVID-19 outbreak. Results: 95.8% of the residents and 90.9% of the HCWs in Flemish LTCFs were vaccinated before May 30, 2021. Before vaccine introduction, residents in LTCFs were 10 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than the general population of Flanders. This ratio reversed after vaccination. Furthermore, after vaccination fewer and shorter outbreaks were observed involving fewer residents. During these outbreaks, vaccinated and unvaccinated residents were equally likely to test positive, but positive vaccinated residents were less likely to develop severe symptoms. In contrast, unvaccinated HCWs were more likely to test positive. Conclusion: In the first half of 2021, two-dose vaccination was highly efficient in preventing and containing outbreaks in LTCFs, reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. The high likelihood of unvaccinated HCWs to be involved in COVID-19 outbreaks in vaccinated LTCFs emphasizes the importance of vaccinating HCWs. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. TN gratefully acknowledges funding by the Internal Funds KU Leuven (project number 3M190682). NH acknowledges support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program - project EpiPose (No 101003688) and from the Flemish Research Fund (FWO 1150017N), BV acknowledges support from Ghent University Special Research Fund (COV021-20 BOF) and from the Flemish Research Fund (G.0H44.20N). The funders had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, writing or submitting of the report.

Published
2022

17. Two Years of Genomic Surveillance in Belgium during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic to Attain Country-Wide Coverage and Monitor the Introduction and Spread of Emerging Variants

Author

COVID-19 Genomics Belgium Consortium, Cuypers, Lize, Dellicour, Simon, Hong, Samuel L, Potter, Barney I, Verhasselt, Bruno, Vereecke, Nick, Lambrechts, Laurens, Durkin, Keith, Bours, Vincent, Klamer, Sofieke, Bayon-Vicente, Guillaume, Vael, Carl, Ariën, Kevin K, De Mendonca, Ricardo, Soetens, Oriane, Michel, Charlotte, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Naesens, Reinout, Gras, Jeremie, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Matheeussen, Veerle, Martens, Geert, Obbels, Dagmar, Lemmens, Ann, Van den Poel, Bea, Van Even, Ellen, De Rauw, Klara, Waumans, Luc, Reynders, Marijke, Degosserie, Jonathan, Maes, Piet, André, Emmanuel, Baele, Guy, Department of Bio-engineering Sciences, Supporting clinical sciences, Microbiology and Infection Control, Clinical Biology, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Diabetes Pathology & Therapy, UCL - SSS/IREC/MONT - Pôle Mont Godinne, UCL - (MGD) Laboratoire de biologie clinique, and COVID-19 Genomics Belgium Consortium

Subjects
SARS-CoV-2, Biology and Life Sciences, COVID-19, High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing, Genomics, Genome, Viral, variants of concern, genomic surveillance, Infectious Diseases, Belgium, SARS-CoV-2/genetics, Virology, Medicine and Health Sciences, genomics, Humans, next-generation sequencing, Human medicine, Belgium/epidemiology, Pandemics, COVID-19/epidemiology
Abstract

An adequate SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance strategy has proven to be essential for countries to obtain a thorough understanding of the variants and lineages being imported and successfully established within their borders. During 2020, genomic surveillance in Belgium was not structurally implemented but performed by individual research laboratories that had to acquire the necessary funds themselves to perform this important task. At the start of 2021, a nationwide genomic surveillance consortium was established in Belgium to markedly increase the country's genomic sequencing efforts (both in terms of intensity and representativeness), to perform quality control among participating laboratories, and to enable coordination and collaboration of research projects and publications. We here discuss the genomic surveillance efforts in Belgium before and after the establishment of its genomic sequencing consortium, provide an overview of the specifics of the consortium, and explore more details regarding the scientific studies that have been published as a result of the increased number of Belgian SARS-CoV-2 genomes that have become available. ispartof: VIRUSES-BASEL vol:14 issue:10 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

Published
2022

18. Two Years of Genomic Surveillance in Belgium during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic to Attain Country-Wide Coverage and Monitor the Introduction and Spread of Emerging Variants

Author

Cuypers, Lize, primary, Dellicour, Simon, additional, Hong, Samuel L., additional, Potter, Barney I., additional, Verhasselt, Bruno, additional, Vereecke, Nick, additional, Lambrechts, Laurens, additional, Durkin, Keith, additional, Bours, Vincent, additional, Klamer, Sofieke, additional, Bayon-Vicente, Guillaume, additional, Vael, Carl, additional, Ariën, Kevin K., additional, De Mendonca, Ricardo, additional, Soetens, Oriane, additional, Michel, Charlotte, additional, Bearzatto, Bertrand, additional, Naesens, Reinout, additional, Gras, Jeremie, additional, Vankeerberghen, Anne, additional, Matheeussen, Veerle, additional, Martens, Geert, additional, Obbels, Dagmar, additional, Lemmens, Ann, additional, Van den Poel, Bea, additional, Van Even, Ellen, additional, De Rauw, Klara, additional, Waumans, Luc, additional, Reynders, Marijke, additional, Degosserie, Jonathan, additional, Maes, Piet, additional, André, Emmanuel, additional, and Baele, Guy, additional

Published
2022
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20. Nationwide Harmonization Effort for Semi-Quantitative Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 PCR Test Results in Belgium

Author

Cuypers, Lize, primary, Bode, Jannes, additional, Beuselinck, Kurt, additional, Laenen, Lies, additional, Dewaele, Klaas, additional, Janssen, Reile, additional, Capron, Arnaud, additional, Lafort, Yves, additional, Paridaens, Henry, additional, Bearzatto, Bertrand, additional, Cauchie, Mathieu, additional, Huwart, Aline, additional, Degosserie, Jonathan, additional, Fagnart, Olivier, additional, Overmeire, Yarah, additional, Rouffiange, Arlette, additional, Vandecandelaere, Ilse, additional, Deffontaine, Marine, additional, Pilate, Thomas, additional, Yin, Nicolas, additional, Micalessi, Isabel, additional, Roisin, Sandrine, additional, Moons, Veronique, additional, Reynders, Marijke, additional, Steyaert, Sophia, additional, Henin, Coralie, additional, Lazarova, Elena, additional, Obbels, Dagmar, additional, Dufrasne, François E., additional, Pirenne, Hendri, additional, Schepers, Raf, additional, Collin, Anaëlle, additional, Verhasselt, Bruno, additional, Gillet, Laurent, additional, Jonckheere, Stijn, additional, Van Lint, Philippe, additional, Van den Poel, Bea, additional, Van der Beken, Yolien, additional, Stojkovic, Violeta, additional, Garrino, Maria-Grazia, additional, Segers, Hannah, additional, Vos, Kevin, additional, Godefroid, Maaike, additional, Pede, Valerie, additional, Nollet, Friedel, additional, Claes, Vincent, additional, Verschraegen, Inge, additional, Bogaerts, Pierre, additional, Van Gysel, Marjan, additional, Leurs, Judith, additional, Saegeman, Veroniek, additional, Soetens, Oriane, additional, Vanhee, Merijn, additional, Schiettekatte, Gilberte, additional, Huyghe, Evelyne, additional, Martens, Steven, additional, Lemmens, Ann, additional, Nailis, Heleen, additional, Laffineur, Kim, additional, Steensels, Deborah, additional, Vanlaere, Elke, additional, Gras, Jérémie, additional, Roussel, Gatien, additional, Gijbels, Koenraad, additional, Boudewijns, Michael, additional, Sion, Catherine, additional, Achtergael, Wim, additional, Maurissen, Wim, additional, Iliano, Luc, additional, Chantrenne, Marianne, additional, Vanheule, Geert, additional, Flies, Reinoud, additional, Hougardy, Nicolas, additional, Berth, Mario, additional, Verbeke, Vanessa, additional, Morent, Robin, additional, Vankeerberghen, Anne, additional, Bontems, Sébastien, additional, Kehoe, Kaat, additional, Schallier, Anneleen, additional, Ho, Giang, additional, Bafort, Kristof, additional, Raymaekers, Marijke, additional, Pypen, Yolande, additional, Heinrichs, Amelie, additional, Schuermans, Wim, additional, Cuigniez, Dominique, additional, Lali, Salah Eddine, additional, Drieghe, Stefanie, additional, Ory, Dieter, additional, Le Mercier, Marie, additional, Van Laethem, Kristel, additional, Thoelen, Inge, additional, Vandamme, Sarah, additional, Mansoor, Iqbal, additional, Vael, Carl, additional, De Sloovere, Maxime, additional, Declerck, Katrien, additional, Dequeker, Elisabeth, additional, Desmet, Stefanie, additional, Maes, Piet, additional, Lagrou, Katrien, additional, and André, Emmanuel, additional

Published
2022
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21. Nationwide Harmonization Effort for Semi-Quantitative Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 PCR Test Results in Belgium.

Author

UCL - (MGD) Laboratoire de biologie clinique, UCL - SSS/IREC/MONT - Pôle Mont Godinne, Cuypers, Lize, Bode, Jannes, Beuselinck, Kurt, Laenen, Lies, Dewaele, Klaas, Janssen, Reile, Capron, Arnaud, Lafort, Yves, Paridaens, Henry, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Cauchie, Mathieu, Huwart, Aline, Degosserie, Jonathan, Fagnart, Olivier, Overmeire, Yarah, Rouffiange, Arlette, Vandecandelaere, Ilse, Deffontaine, Marine, Pilate, Thomas, Yin, Nicolas, Micalessi, Isabel, Roisin, Sandrine, Moons, Veronique, Reynders, Marijke, Steyaert, Sophia, Henin, Coralie, Lazarova, Elena, Obbels, Dagmar, Dufrasne, François E, Pirenne, Hendri, Schepers, Raf, Collin, Anaëlle, Verhasselt, Bruno, Gillet, Laurent, Jonckheere, Stijn, Van Lint, Philippe, Van den Poel, Bea, Van der Beken, Yolien, Stojkovic, Violeta, Garrino, Maria-Grazia, Segers, Hannah, Vos, Kevin, Godefroid, Maaike, Pede, Valerie, Nollet, Friedel, Claes, Vincent, Verschraegen, Inge, Bogaerts, Pierre, Van Gysel, Marjan, Leurs, Judith, Saegeman, Veroniek, Soetens, Oriane, Vanhee, Merijn, Schiettekatte, Gilberte, Huyghe, Evelyne, Martens, Steven, Lemmens, Ann, Nailis, Heleen, Laffineur, Kim, Steensels, Deborah, Vanlaere, Elke, Gras, Jérémie, Roussel, Gatien, Gijbels, Koenraad, Boudewijns, Michael, Sion, Catherine, Achtergael, Wim, Maurissen, Wim, Iliano, Luc, Chantrenne, Marianne, Vanheule, Geert, Flies, Reinoud, Hougardy, Nicolas, Berth, Mario, Verbeke, Vanessa, Morent, Robin, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Bontems, Sébastien, Kehoe, Kaat, Schallier, Anneleen, Ho, Giang, Bafort, Kristof, Raymaekers, Marijke, Pypen, Yolande, Heinrichs, Amelie, Schuermans, Wim, Cuigniez, Dominique, Lali, Salah Eddine, Drieghe, Stefanie, Ory, Dieter, Le Mercier, Marie, Van Laethem, Kristel, Thoelen, Inge, Vandamme, Sarah, Mansoor, Iqbal, Vael, Carl, De Sloovere, Maxime, Declerck, Katrien, Dequeker, Elisabeth, Desmet, Stefanie, Maes, Piet, Lagrou, Katrien, André, Emmanuel, UCL - (MGD) Laboratoire de biologie clinique, UCL - SSS/IREC/MONT - Pôle Mont Godinne, Cuypers, Lize, Bode, Jannes, Beuselinck, Kurt, Laenen, Lies, Dewaele, Klaas, Janssen, Reile, Capron, Arnaud, Lafort, Yves, Paridaens, Henry, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Cauchie, Mathieu, Huwart, Aline, Degosserie, Jonathan, Fagnart, Olivier, Overmeire, Yarah, Rouffiange, Arlette, Vandecandelaere, Ilse, Deffontaine, Marine, Pilate, Thomas, Yin, Nicolas, Micalessi, Isabel, Roisin, Sandrine, Moons, Veronique, Reynders, Marijke, Steyaert, Sophia, Henin, Coralie, Lazarova, Elena, Obbels, Dagmar, Dufrasne, François E, Pirenne, Hendri, Schepers, Raf, Collin, Anaëlle, Verhasselt, Bruno, Gillet, Laurent, Jonckheere, Stijn, Van Lint, Philippe, Van den Poel, Bea, Van der Beken, Yolien, Stojkovic, Violeta, Garrino, Maria-Grazia, Segers, Hannah, Vos, Kevin, Godefroid, Maaike, Pede, Valerie, Nollet, Friedel, Claes, Vincent, Verschraegen, Inge, Bogaerts, Pierre, Van Gysel, Marjan, Leurs, Judith, Saegeman, Veroniek, Soetens, Oriane, Vanhee, Merijn, Schiettekatte, Gilberte, Huyghe, Evelyne, Martens, Steven, Lemmens, Ann, Nailis, Heleen, Laffineur, Kim, Steensels, Deborah, Vanlaere, Elke, Gras, Jérémie, Roussel, Gatien, Gijbels, Koenraad, Boudewijns, Michael, Sion, Catherine, Achtergael, Wim, Maurissen, Wim, Iliano, Luc, Chantrenne, Marianne, Vanheule, Geert, Flies, Reinoud, Hougardy, Nicolas, Berth, Mario, Verbeke, Vanessa, Morent, Robin, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Bontems, Sébastien, Kehoe, Kaat, Schallier, Anneleen, Ho, Giang, Bafort, Kristof, Raymaekers, Marijke, Pypen, Yolande, Heinrichs, Amelie, Schuermans, Wim, Cuigniez, Dominique, Lali, Salah Eddine, Drieghe, Stefanie, Ory, Dieter, Le Mercier, Marie, Van Laethem, Kristel, Thoelen, Inge, Vandamme, Sarah, Mansoor, Iqbal, Vael, Carl, De Sloovere, Maxime, Declerck, Katrien, Dequeker, Elisabeth, Desmet, Stefanie, Maes, Piet, Lagrou, Katrien, and André, Emmanuel

Abstract

From early 2020, a high demand for SARS-CoV-2 tests was driven by several testing indications, including asymptomatic cases, resulting in the massive roll-out of PCR assays to combat the pandemic. Considering the dynamic of viral shedding during the course of infection, the demand to report cycle threshold (Ct) values rapidly emerged. As Ct values can be affected by a number of factors, we considered that harmonization of semi-quantitative PCR results across laboratories would avoid potential divergent interpretations, particularly in the absence of clinical or serological information. A proposal to harmonize reporting of test results was drafted by the National Reference Centre (NRC) UZ/KU Leuven, distinguishing four categories of positivity based on RNA copies/mL. Pre-quantified control material was shipped to 124 laboratories with instructions to setup a standard curve to define thresholds per assay. For each assay, the mean Ct value and corresponding standard deviation was calculated per target gene, for the three concentrations (10, 10 and 10 copies/mL) that determine the classification. The results of 17 assays are summarized. This harmonization effort allowed to ensure that all Belgian laboratories would report positive PCR results in the same semi-quantitative manner to clinicians and to the national database which feeds contact tracing interventions.

Published
2022

22. Two Years of Genomic Surveillance in Belgium during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic to Attain Country-Wide Coverage and Monitor the Introduction and Spread of Emerging Variants.

Author

UCL - SSS/IREC/MONT - Pôle Mont Godinne, UCL - (MGD) Laboratoire de biologie clinique, Cuypers, Lize, Dellicour, Simon, Hong, Samuel L, Potter, Barney I, Verhasselt, Bruno, Vereecke, Nick, Lambrechts, Laurens, Durkin, Keith, Bours, Vincent, Klamer, Sofieke, Bayon-Vicente, Guillaume, Vael, Carl, Ariën, Kevin K, De Mendonca, Ricardo, Soetens, Oriane, Michel, Charlotte, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Naesens, Reinout, Gras, Jeremie, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Matheeussen, Veerle, Martens, Geert, Obbels, Dagmar, Lemmens, Ann, Van den Poel, Bea, Van Even, Ellen, De Rauw, Klara, Waumans, Luc, Reynders, Marijke, Degosserie, Jonathan, COVID-19 Genomics Belgium Consortium, Maes, Piet, André, Emmanuel, Baele, Guy, UCL - SSS/IREC/MONT - Pôle Mont Godinne, UCL - (MGD) Laboratoire de biologie clinique, Cuypers, Lize, Dellicour, Simon, Hong, Samuel L, Potter, Barney I, Verhasselt, Bruno, Vereecke, Nick, Lambrechts, Laurens, Durkin, Keith, Bours, Vincent, Klamer, Sofieke, Bayon-Vicente, Guillaume, Vael, Carl, Ariën, Kevin K, De Mendonca, Ricardo, Soetens, Oriane, Michel, Charlotte, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Naesens, Reinout, Gras, Jeremie, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Matheeussen, Veerle, Martens, Geert, Obbels, Dagmar, Lemmens, Ann, Van den Poel, Bea, Van Even, Ellen, De Rauw, Klara, Waumans, Luc, Reynders, Marijke, Degosserie, Jonathan, COVID-19 Genomics Belgium Consortium, Maes, Piet, André, Emmanuel, and Baele, Guy

Abstract

An adequate SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance strategy has proven to be essential for countries to obtain a thorough understanding of the variants and lineages being imported and successfully established within their borders. During 2020, genomic surveillance in Belgium was not structurally implemented but performed by individual research laboratories that had to acquire the necessary funds themselves to perform this important task. At the start of 2021, a nationwide genomic surveillance consortium was established in Belgium to markedly increase the country's genomic sequencing efforts (both in terms of intensity and representativeness), to perform quality control among participating laboratories, and to enable coordination and collaboration of research projects and publications. We here discuss the genomic surveillance efforts in Belgium before and after the establishment of its genomic sequencing consortium, provide an overview of the specifics of the consortium, and explore more details regarding the scientific studies that have been published as a result of the increased number of Belgian SARS-CoV-2 genomes that have become available.

Published
2022

23. Role of the pol gene enhancer in HIV-1 transcription and replication in myeloid infected cells.

Author

AIDS 2022, the 24th International AIDS Conference (Montréal, Canada), Van Lint, Carine, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Dutilleul, Antoine, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Marray, Tristan, Nestola, Lorena, Monceaux, Valerie, David, Annie, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, Rohr, Olivier, AIDS 2022, the 24th International AIDS Conference (Montréal, Canada), Van Lint, Carine, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Dutilleul, Antoine, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Marray, Tristan, Nestola, Lorena, Monceaux, Valerie, David, Annie, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, and Rohr, Olivier

Abstract

info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Published
2022

24. Role of the pol gene enhancer in HIV-1 transcription and replication in myeloid infected cells

Author

AC41 Host-Virus interactions Annual international symposium "HIV reservoirs in all its forms: Detection, characterisation and targeting" (14th and 15th November 2022: Institut Pasteur Paris), Dutilleul, Antoine, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Marray, Tristan, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Nestola, Lorena, Monceaux, Valerie, David, Annie, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, Rohr, Olivier, Van Lint, Carine, AC41 Host-Virus interactions Annual international symposium "HIV reservoirs in all its forms: Detection, characterisation and targeting" (14th and 15th November 2022: Institut Pasteur Paris), Dutilleul, Antoine, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Marray, Tristan, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Nestola, Lorena, Monceaux, Valerie, David, Annie, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, Rohr, Olivier, and Van Lint, Carine

Abstract

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Published
2022

25. Role of the pol gene enhancer in HIV-1 transcription and replication in myeloid infected cells

Author

Van Lint, Carine, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Dutilleul, Antoine, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Marray, Tristan TM, Nestola, Lorena, Monceaux, Valerie, David, Annie, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, Rohr, Olivier, Van Lint, Carine, Hernalsteens, Olivier, Verdikt, Roxane, Vanhulle, Caroline, Dutilleul, Antoine, Cristinelli, Sara SC, Marray, Tristan TM, Nestola, Lorena, Monceaux, Valerie, David, Annie, Verhasselt, Bruno, Galons, Hervé, Ciuffi, Angela, Sáez-Cirión, Asier, and Rohr, Olivier

Abstract

info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Published
2022

26. Two Years of Genomic Surveillance in Belgium during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic to Attain Country-Wide Coverage and Monitor the Introduction and Spread of Emerging Variants

Author

Cuypers, Lize, Dellicour, Simon, Hong, Samuel S.L., Potter, Barney, Verhasselt, Bruno, Vereecke, Nick, Lambrechts, Laurens, Durkin, Keith, Bours, Vincent, Klamer, Sofieke, Bayon-Vicente, Guillaume, Vael, Carl, Ariën, Kevin, De Mendonça, Ricardo, Soetens, Oriane, Michel, Charlotte, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Naesens, Reinout, Gras, Jeremie, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Matheeussen, Veerle, Martens, Geert Antoine, Obbels, Dagmar, Lemmens, Ann, Van den Poel, Bea, Van Even, Ellen, De Rauw, Klara, Waumans, Luc, Reynders, Marijke, Degosserie, Jonathan, André, Emmanuel, Maes, Piet, Baele, Guy, Cuypers, Lize, Dellicour, Simon, Hong, Samuel S.L., Potter, Barney, Verhasselt, Bruno, Vereecke, Nick, Lambrechts, Laurens, Durkin, Keith, Bours, Vincent, Klamer, Sofieke, Bayon-Vicente, Guillaume, Vael, Carl, Ariën, Kevin, De Mendonça, Ricardo, Soetens, Oriane, Michel, Charlotte, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Naesens, Reinout, Gras, Jeremie, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Matheeussen, Veerle, Martens, Geert Antoine, Obbels, Dagmar, Lemmens, Ann, Van den Poel, Bea, Van Even, Ellen, De Rauw, Klara, Waumans, Luc, Reynders, Marijke, Degosserie, Jonathan, André, Emmanuel, Maes, Piet, and Baele, Guy

Abstract

An adequate SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance strategy has proven to be essential for countries to obtain a thorough understanding of the variants and lineages being imported and successfully established within their borders. During 2020, genomic surveillance in Belgium was not structurally implemented but performed by individual research laboratories that had to acquire the necessary funds themselves to perform this important task. At the start of 2021, a nationwide genomic surveillance consortium was established in Belgium to markedly increase the country’s genomic sequencing efforts (both in terms of intensity and representativeness), to perform quality control among participating laboratories, and to enable coordination and collaboration of research projects and publications. We here discuss the genomic surveillance efforts in Belgium before and after the establishment of its genomic sequencing consortium, provide an overview of the specifics of the consortium, and explore more details regarding the scientific studies that have been published as a result of the increased number of Belgian SARS-CoV-2 genomes that have become available., SCOPUS: re.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Published
2022

27. Evaluation of Humoral and Cellular Responses in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccinated Immunocompromised Patients

Author

Oyaert, Matthijs, primary, De Scheerder, Marie-Angélique, additional, Van Herrewege, Sophie, additional, Laureys, Guy, additional, Van Assche, Sofie, additional, Cambron, Melissa, additional, Naesens, Leslie, additional, Hoste, Levi, additional, Claes, Karlien, additional, Haerynck, Filomeen, additional, Kerre, Tessa, additional, Van Laecke, Steven, additional, Van Biesen, Wim, additional, Jacques, Peggy, additional, Verhasselt, Bruno, additional, and Padalko, Elizaveta, additional

Published
2022
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29. Functional Analysis of Human and Feline Coronavirus Cross-Reactive Antibodies Directed Against the SARS-CoV-2 Fusion Peptide

Author

Vanderheijden, Nathalie, primary, Stevaert, Annelies, additional, Xie, Jiexiong, additional, Ren, Xiaolei, additional, Barbezange, Cyril, additional, Noppen, Sam, additional, Desombere, Isabelle, additional, Verhasselt, Bruno, additional, Geldhof, Peter, additional, Vereecke, Nick, additional, Stroobants, Veerle, additional, Oh, Dayoung, additional, Vanhee, Merijn, additional, Naesens, Lieve M. J., additional, and Nauwynck, Hans J., additional

Published
2022
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32. A cGAS-mediated type I interferon response in human CD4+ T cells depends on productive infection and is conserved over HIV types and strains.

Author

Janevska, Marija, Cammaert, Timothy, Naessens, Evelien, and Verhasselt, Bruno

Subjects
*TYPE I interferons, *HIV infections, *HIV, *T cells, *INTEGRASE inhibitors
Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 is known to be less pathogenic than HIV-1, possibly due to more effective immune control mechanisms. The mechanism of innate sensing of HIV-2 by T cells is at present unclear. In this study, we show that several primary isolates of HIV-2 (CBL20 and CI85) and HIV-1 (A8 and D2), similar to the molecular clone HIV-1 NL4.3-GFP-I, induce a significant type I interferon response in its main target, activated CD4+ T cells. However, they are unable to do so after shRNA-mediated knock-down of cGAS. In addition, both HIV-1- and HIV-2-induced type I interferon response in CD4+ T cells was dependent on productive infection and integration, as the presence of RT or integrase inhibitor dramatically suppressed the sensing. Our findings collectively showed that the cGAS-dependent type I interferon response of CD4+ T cells to HIV infection is conserved over HIV types and critically depends on productive infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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33. Nationwide Harmonization Effort for Semi-Quantitative Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 PCR Test Results in Belgium

Author

Lize Cuypers, Jannes Bode, Kurt Beuselinck, Lies Laenen, Klaas Dewaele, Reile Janssen, Arnaud Capron, Yves Lafort, Henry Paridaens, Bertrand Bearzatto, Mathieu Cauchie, Aline Huwart, Jonathan Degosserie, Olivier Fagnart, Yarah Overmeire, Arlette Rouffiange, Ilse Vandecandelaere, Marine Deffontaine, Thomas Pilate, Nicolas Yin, Isabel Micalessi, Sandrine Roisin, Veronique Moons, Marijke Reynders, Sophia Steyaert, Coralie Henin, Elena Lazarova, Dagmar Obbels, François E. Dufrasne, Hendri Pirenne, Raf Schepers, Anaëlle Collin, Bruno Verhasselt, Laurent Gillet, Stijn Jonckheere, Philippe Van Lint, Bea Van den Poel, Yolien Van der Beken, Violeta Stojkovic, Maria-Grazia Garrino, Hannah Segers, Kevin Vos, Maaike Godefroid, Valerie Pede, Friedel Nollet, Vincent Claes, Inge Verschraegen, Pierre Bogaerts, Marjan Van Gysel, Judith Leurs, Veroniek Saegeman, Oriane Soetens, Merijn Vanhee, Gilberte Schiettekatte, Evelyne Huyghe, Steven Martens, Ann Lemmens, Heleen Nailis, Kim Laffineur, Deborah Steensels, Elke Vanlaere, Jérémie Gras, Gatien Roussel, Koenraad Gijbels, Michael Boudewijns, Catherine Sion, Wim Achtergael, Wim Maurissen, Luc Iliano, Marianne Chantrenne, Geert Vanheule, Reinoud Flies, Nicolas Hougardy, Mario Berth, Vanessa Verbeke, Robin Morent, Anne Vankeerberghen, Sébastien Bontems, Kaat Kehoe, Anneleen Schallier, Giang Ho, Kristof Bafort, Marijke Raymaekers, Yolande Pypen, Amelie Heinrichs, Wim Schuermans, Dominique Cuigniez, Salah Eddine Lali, Stefanie Drieghe, Dieter Ory, Marie Le Mercier, Kristel Van Laethem, Inge Thoelen, Sarah Vandamme, Iqbal Mansoor, Carl Vael, Maxime De Sloovere, Katrien Declerck, Elisabeth Dequeker, Stefanie Desmet, Piet Maes, Katrien Lagrou, Emmanuel André, Dufrasne, Francois/0000-0001-6288-7936, Yin, Nicolas/0000-0003-1706-6869, Van Laethem, Kristel/0000-0001-6036-2271, Micalessi, Isabel, Ory , Dieter, Dequeker, Elisabeth, CLAES , Vincent, Verhasselt, Bruno, Moons, Veronique, Soetens, Oriane, Godefroid, Maaike, Verschraegen, Inge, Pirenne, Hendri, Gillet, Laurent, Heinrichs, Amelie, Huwart, Aline, Vanhee, Merijn, Vandamme, Sarah, Maurissen, Wim, Laenen , Lies, Reynders , Marijke, Thoelen, Inge, Gras, Jeremie, Berth, Mario, Obbels, Dagmar, Vanheule, Geert, Maes, Piet, Bafort, Kristof, Flies, Reinoud, Janssen, Reile, van den Poel, Bea, Bontems, Sebastien, Schepers , Raf, Overmeire, Yarah, Boudewijns, Michael, van der Beken, Yolien, Cuypers , Lize, Bode, Jannes, Vos, Kevin, Paridaens, Henry, Achtergael, Wim, Saegeman, Veroniek, Rouffiange, Arlette, Dewaele, Klaas, Pypen, Yolande, Yin, Nicolas, Drieghe, Stefanie, Nailis, Heleen, Kehoe, Kaat, DE SMET, Stefanie, Verbeke, Vanessa, Vanlaere, Elke, Vael, Carl, Van Laethem, Kristel, Segers, Hannah, Pede, Valerie, Deffontaine, Marine, Martens , Steven, Lemmens, Ann, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Lagrou, Katrien, Iliano, Luc, Chantrenne, Marianne, Laffineur, Kim, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Vandecandelaere, Ilse, Sion, Catherine, Andre, Emmanuel, Cuigniez, Dominique, Pilate, Thomas, Capron, Arnaud, Nollet, Friedel, Roisin, Sandrine, Gijbels, Koenraad, Van Lint, Philippe, Bogaerts, Pierre, Lafort, Yves, Henin, Coralie, Van Gysel, Marjan, Huyghe, Evelyne, Lali, Salah Eddine, Roussel, Gatien, Garrino, Maria-Grazia, Schuermans, Wim, Steyaert, Sophia, Le Mercier, Marie, De Sloovere, Maxime, Leurs, Judith, STEENSELS, Deborah, Declerck, Katrien, Dufrasne, Francois E., Fagnart, Olivier, Ho, Giang, Lazarova, Elena, Schallier, Anneleen, Beuselinck, Kurt, Morent, Robin, Hougardy, Nicolas, Raymaekers, Marijke, Jonckheere, Stijn, Stojkovic, Violeta, Degosserie, Jonathan, Cauchie, Mathieu, Schiettekatte, Gilberte, Collin, Anaelle, Mansoor, Iqbal, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Supporting clinical sciences, Microbiology and Infection Control, Clinical Biology, Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, UCL - (MGD) Laboratoire de biologie clinique, and UCL - SSS/IREC/MONT - Pôle Mont Godinne

Subjects
SARS-CoV-2, PCR, semi-quantitative reporting, RNA copies/mL, infectivity, COVID-19/diagnosis, COVID-19, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, mL, Infectious Diseases, Belgium, SARS-CoV-2/genetics, Virology, Humans, RNA copies, Human medicine, Belgium/epidemiology, Pandemics
Abstract

From early 2020, a high demand for SARS-CoV-2 tests was driven by several testing indications, including asymptomatic cases, resulting in the massive roll-out of PCR assays to combat the pandemic. Considering the dynamic of viral shedding during the course of infection, the demand to report cycle threshold (Ct) values rapidly emerged. As Ct values can be affected by a number of factors, we considered that harmonization of semi-quantitative PCR results across laboratories would avoid potential divergent interpretations, particularly in the absence of clinical or serological information. A proposal to harmonize reporting of test results was drafted by the National Reference Centre (NRC) UZ/KU Leuven, distinguishing four categories of positivity based on RNA copies/mL. Pre-quantified control material was shipped to 124 laboratories with instructions to setup a standard curve to define thresholds per assay. For each assay, the mean Ct value and corresponding standard deviation was calculated per target gene, for the three concentrations (10(7), 10(5) and 10(3) copies/mL) that determine the classification. The results of 17 assays are summarized. This harmonization effort allowed to ensure that all Belgian laboratories would report positive PCR results in the same semi-quantitative manner to clinicians and to the national database which feeds contact tracing interventions. UZ/KU Leuven: as National Reference Center for Respiratory Pathogens, is supported by Sciensano, which is gratefully acknowledged. We would like to acknowledge additional staff members of the participating laboratories that contributed to this study: Jean-Luc Gala, Benoit Kabamba, Elsa Wiam, Valentin Coste, Paul Blanpain, Jean Ruelle, Ari Serbetciyan, Nicolas Pinte, Ophélie Simon and the entire UCLouvain federal testing platform COVID-19 team (all affiliation 4), Aurore Demars (affiliation 7), Laura Vanden Daele (affiliation 9), Hanne Valgaeren (affiliation 22), Guillaume Bayon-Vicente (affiliation 23), Fabrice Bureau, Claire Gourzonès and Joey Schyns (affiliation 28), Stéphanie Evrard (affiliation 42), Clara Ceyssens (affiliation 58), Jorn Hellemans (affiliation 77), Bram Slechten (affiliation 86) and the entire team of the laboratory of microbiology of UZA (affiliation 89) and of the UZA Federal testing platform COVID-19 (affiliation 85) for their boundless dedication.

Published
2022

34. Validation of EUCAST rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing directly from positive blood cultures in a non-automated lab setting.

Author

Strubbe G, Van Honacker E, Vandendriessche S, Messiaen AS, Verhasselt B, and Boelens J

Abstract

Introduction: To speed up antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) proposed rapid AST (RAST), a disk diffusion method to be read after 4, 6 and 8 hours of incubation. We investigated the feasibility of implementation of RAST in a non-automated lab setting., Materials & Methods: To this end, reference strains as well as a variety of clinical and resistant strains were used to spike sterile hemocultures (BioMérieux BACT/ALERT 3D® and Becton Dickinson BACTEC FX® systems), followed by RAST in comparison to classical long-incubation AST., Results & Conclusion: Our results with reference strains show that reading RAST after 4 hours is frequently too soon to obtain clinical results, and that Streptococcus pneumoniae reference strain did yield readable inhibition zones in RAST when harvested from BioMérieux BACT/ALERT 3D® bottle cultures. In a wider panel of strains, Gram positives RAST results were very similar to standard AST, while with Gram negative species errors were more frequently observed, limiting clinical implementation.

Published
2024
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35. Emergence of the B.1.214.2 SARS-CoV-2 lineage with an Omicron-like spike insertion and a unique upper airway immune signature.

Author

Holtz A, Van Weyenbergh J, Hong SL, Cuypers L, O'Toole Á, Dudas G, Gerdol M, Potter BI, Ntoumi F, Mapanguy CCM, Vanmechelen B, Wawina-Bokalanga T, Van Holm B, Menezes SM, Soubotko K, Van Pottelbergh G, Wollants E, Vermeersch P, Jacob AS, Maes B, Obbels D, Matheeussen V, Martens G, Gras J, Verhasselt B, Laffut W, Vael C, Goegebuer T, van der Kant R, Rousseau F, Schymkowitz J, Serrano L, Delgado J, Wenseleers T, Bours V, André E, Suchard MA, Rambaut A, Dellicour S, Maes P, Durkin K, and Baele G

Subjects
Humans, Aged, Male, Travel, Belgium epidemiology, Middle Aged, Female, Adult, Phylogeography, Nasopharynx virology, SARS-CoV-2 genetics, SARS-CoV-2 immunology, COVID-19 immunology, COVID-19 virology, COVID-19 epidemiology, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus genetics, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus immunology
Abstract

We investigate the emergence, mutation profile, and dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.214.2, first identified in Belgium in January 2021. This variant, featuring a 3-amino acid insertion in the spike protein similar to the Omicron variant, was speculated to enhance transmissibility or immune evasion. Initially detected in international travelers, it substantially transmitted in Central Africa, Belgium, Switzerland, and France, peaking in April 2021. Our travel-aware phylogeographic analysis, incorporating travel history, estimated the origin to the Republic of the Congo, with primary European entry through France and Belgium, and multiple smaller introductions during the epidemic. We correlate its spread with human travel patterns and air passenger data. Further, upon reviewing national reports of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in Belgian nursing homes, we found this strain caused moderately severe outcomes (8.7% case fatality ratio). A distinct nasopharyngeal immune response was observed in elderly patients, characterized by 80% unique signatures, higher B- and T-cell activation, increased type I IFN signaling, and reduced NK, Th17, and complement system activation, compared to similar outbreaks. This unique immune response may explain the variant's epidemiological behavior and underscores the need for nasal vaccine strategies against emerging variants., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Published
2024
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36. Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre.

Author

Janssen R, Cuypers L, Laenen L, Keyaerts E, Beuselinck K, Janssenswillen S, Slechten B, Bode J, Wollants E, Van Laethem K, Rector A, Bloemen M, Sijmons A, de Schaetzen N, Capron A, Van Baelen K, Pascal T, Vermeiren C, Bureau F, Vandesompele J, De Smet P, Uten W, Malonne H, Kerkhofs P, De Cock J, Matheeussen V, Verhasselt B, Gillet L, Detry G, Bearzatto B, Degosserie J, Henin C, Pairoux G, Maes P, Van Ranst M, Lagrou K, Dequeker E, and André E

Subjects
Humans, Belgium epidemiology, COVID-19 Testing, Pandemics, Clinical Laboratory Techniques, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques, SARS-CoV-2 genetics, COVID-19 diagnosis, COVID-19 epidemiology
Abstract

Since the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Belgium, UZ/KU Leuven has played a crucial role as the National Reference Centre (NRC) for respiratory pathogens, to be the first Belgian laboratory to develop and implement laboratory developed diagnostic assays for SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and later to assess the quality of commercial kits. To meet the growing demand for decentralised testing, both clinical laboratories and government-supported high-throughput platforms were gradually deployed across Belgium. Consequently, the role of the NRC transitioned from a specialised testing laboratory to strengthening capacity and coordinating quality assurance. Here, we outline the measures taken by the NRC, the national public health institute Sciensano and the executing clinical laboratories to ensure effective quality management of molecular testing throughout the initial two years of the pandemic (March 2020 to March 2022)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Published
2024
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