Infection and autoimmunity 13 May 2026

Neutralization of an interferon alpha molecule (right) by a human autoantibody (left, VK and VL variable domains).
Predictions of biomolecular interactions by AlphaFold3.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the unexpected impact of type 1 interferons neutralization by autoantibodies which are present in 4% of individuals over 70 years of age and which have been associated with approximately 20% of COVID-19 deaths. The mechanisms leading to the production of these autoantibodies, their molecular characteristics and their targets on interferons remained unknown until now. These questions were addressed within the framework of the RHU-5 COVIFERON research program, directed by Jean-Laurent CASANOVA as part of an international collaboration bringing together a total of 60 clinicians or researchers. The results of this collaborative work of our teams at Sorbonne University, Inserm and AP-HP with those of Matthieu MAHEVAS and Pascal CHAPPERT (Institut Necker – Enfants Malades, Université Paris Cité, Inserm and AP-HP), and Félix REY (Institut Pasteur, Paris) have now been published since May 6, 2026 on the Cell  website.

https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674%2826%2900438-1