Dmitriy Chudakov, Evgeniia Alekseeva and Georgii Bazykin from Skoltech have co-authored a paper “SARS-CoV-2 evolution in a patient with secondary B-cell immunodeficiency: A clinical case” that has been recently published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics journal. The study reveals the course of long-term SARS-CoV-2 infection in a patient with a secondary immunodeficiency developed with B-cell-depleting therapy of the underlying disease. The researchers have found that during long-term infection a specific inpatient point mutation occurred in the S-protein, with a possible role in binding to alternative cellular receptors. Therapy with a ready-made COVID-19-globulin preparation resulted in rapid improvement of the patient’s condition, fast, and stable elimination of the virus. The scientists conclude that the use of products containing neutralizing antibodies opens new prospects for treatment algorithms for patients with persistent coronavirus infection, as well as for passive immunization schemes for patients with a presumably reduced specific response to vaccination. Full text of the paper is available here.