Head, Infectious Disease Diagnostics Division at University of Washington. Infectious Diseases Research, Clinical Trials, and Testing. @uwlabmedpath @UWVirology
Seattle, WA
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Just signed the validation documents for our Monday launch of clinical quantitative Hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) testing at UW! (test code: HBSAGQ)
qHBsAg is a fascinating analyte. It's the main eligibility criterion as well as primary outcome measure for HBV antiviral trials. The definition of functional cure in global guidelines. Approved in other countries for more than 15 years.
But it was the poster child of a vicious cycle in diagnostic testing (no indication -> no FDA authorized test -> no testing -> no awareness).
That all seems ready to change with the recent banger of clinical trial results for GSK's bepirovirsen reported in May (nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NE…). 20% of treated participants of functional cure for HBV compared to nobody in the placebo groups. Independently replicated in two cohorts.
It's not quite sofosbuvir-level news, but what an opening for HBV cure.
Anyway, back to the lab. Only half of people with HBV in the United States know they're infected and essentially no one knows their qHBsAg level and whether they could be eligible for this drug when it's approved. We've got to catch up quick (you can see GSK try here, usmahepa.gskusmedicalaffairs…). But there are no FDA-authorized qHBsAg tests available and won't be for many months. Enter the laboratory-developed test for qHBsAg.
UW has performed qHBsAg testing for clinical trials for more than a decade, first for the NIH Hepatitis B Research Network and now for the Advancing Clinical Trials Globally Network. It's great to finally be able to make this test more widely available.
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RT @uwmnewsroom: Efforts are underway @UWMedicine to streamline Western Blot genital herpes test interpretation. Scientific American's @sci…
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Greninger Lab retweeted
The BioFire diagnostic PCR system has a high false positive rate for norovirus in 2024
So this group cracked open some BioFire PCR pouches and sequenced the amplicon in Norovirus positives
Poor amplicon design - amplified of common enteric bacteria
medrxiv.org/content/10.64898…
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Correspondence: Human Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N5) Virus nej.md/4tob22K
#InfectiousDisease #PublicHealth
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Mpox continues to spread in many communities. Tecovirimat has activity against orthopoxviruses in vitro. In a phase 3 trial involving patients with acute mpox, tecovirimat showed no evidence of clinical activity. Full STOMP/A5418 trial results: https://nej.md/4rdlMA9
ALT Original Article | Feb 26, 2026 Tecovirimat for the Treatment of Mpox Figure 2A. Primary Outcome Measure, Clinical Resolution
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RT @uwmnewsroom: A new, rapid, point-of-care diagnostic lab test for hepatitis C could help thousands be cured, but adequate insurance reim…
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New biorxiv on the discovery of
an anellovirus genome integrated into an acute myeloid leukemia cell line that’s been used for 30+ years. The discovery informs blood cell tropism of anelloviruses and let us profile cancer systems biology data to inform anellovirus transcription.
Integration of an anellovirus genome in the SKNO-1 acute myeloid leukemia cell line biorxiv.org/content/10.64898… #biorxiv_genomic
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1/ How has H5N1 affected this year’s flu season in Seattle? Despite ongoing outbreaks in birds & cattle nationally, we detected zero H5N1 cases in 675 influenza A-positive specimens tested at UW Medicine.
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RT @uwmnewsroom: Just when you think you've dodged the latest round of colds at work or school, sniffles & sore throat begin. A new study @…
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RT @uwmnewsroom: As U.S. syphilis cases surge, @uwlabmedpath researchers are determined to improve diagnostic tests for the infection. Untr…
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Greninger Lab retweeted
Let’s go!! @GreningerLab kicking off the the afternoon session at #SCASM2024
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Greninger Lab retweeted
Performance characteristics of highly automated HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG testing medrxiv.org/cgi/content/shor… #medRxiv
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Greninger Lab retweeted
Genomic epidemiology and evolution of rhinovirus in western Washington State, 2021-22 medrxiv.org/cgi/content/shor… #medRxiv
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Greninger Lab retweeted
Within-host rhinovirus evolution in upper and lower respiratory tract highlights capsid variability and mutation-independent compartmentalization biorxiv.org/cgi/content/shor… #bioRxiv
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Greninger Lab retweeted
Genomic epidemiology of Treponema pallidum and circulation of strains with diminished tprK antigen variation capability in Seattle, 2021-2022 biorxiv.org/cgi/content/shor… #bioRxiv
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Greninger Lab retweeted
Evaluation and Clinical Validation of Monkeypox Virus Real-Time PCR Assays medrxiv.org/cgi/content/shor… #medRxiv
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Genomic characterization of respiratory syncytial virus 2022-2023 outbreak in Washington State, USA medrxiv.org/cgi/content/shor… #medRxiv
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Want to help lead operations behind groundbreaking #Virology research? Apply for the Laboratory Administration Manager position in the @UWVirology @GreningerLab today! tinyurl.com/3mhj52ky
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Greninger Lab retweeted
@GreningerLab has a great opportunity available for a Research Scientist/Engineer 3!
We are hiring! tinyurl.com/yckpra8e
We are seeking a full-time #Virology Research Scientist 3 position with the @GreningerLab. Req # 196264
@UWVirology #nextgenerationsequencing #molecularbiology
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