We find ourselves faced with the extraordinary impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our personal and professional lives. Many academic labs and biotech companies continue to press forward for the search of a vaccine or a treatment. While their work environment is nearly shut down, essential researchers persist with their efforts to bring a solution to the world. Critical processes in the lab must continue to function.

1. Cossarizza et al., 2020, SARS‐CoV‐2, the Virus that Causes COVID‐19: Cytometry and the New Challenge for Global Health
This high-level review focuses on the approaches, models and methodologies in cytometry that will play a key role in answering major questions in the pathogenesis and immune responses of SARS-CoV-2.

2. Cossarizza et al. 2019, Guidelines for the use of flow cytometry and cell sorting in immunological studies
This review features a comprehensive set of guidelines for researchers in the flow cytometry, cell sorting and immunology community. The latest techniques are summarized and detailed tables listing major immune cell types with relevant applications are also provided. Additionally, there are numerous sections specifying best practices for flow cytometry analysis.

3. ISAC COVID Guidelines, New SARS-CoV-2 Sorting Protocols Released
The International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry has released new recommended guidelines and protocols for sorting infectious samples, in light of critical SARS-CoV-2 research. Careful considerations are outlined for safe and effective management of aerosols, respiratory protection, and protocols in the event of clogs for cell sorting.

4. Han et al., 2020, Single-cell analysis of human lung epithelia reveals concomitant expression of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 with multiple virus receptors and scavengers in alveolar type II cells
This article highlights a large single-cell analysis of 70,000+ EpCAM-positive lung epithelial cells from a range of lineages. Relative expression of various genes of interest compared to a number of diverse subsets of lung cells is reported.

1. Lukassen et al., 2020., SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are primarily expressed in bronchial transient secretory cells
This article investigates ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression levels in single cells across various cell types in lung and bronchial tissue. The resulting transiently differentiating cells show enrichment for various pathways, providing resources for further research into SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and infection.

2. Liao et al., 2020., The landscape of lung bronchoalveolar immune cells in COVID-19 revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing
This team characterized the lung immune microenvironment from COVID-19 patients using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and performing single-cell RNA-seq combined with TCR-seq. This study provides the beginnings of a model of the lung microenvironment at single-cell resolution, and uncovers possible mechanisms underlying disease progression and protection.

3. Guo et al., 2020., Tocilizumab treatment in severe COVID- 19 patients attenuates the inflammatory storm incited by monocyte centric immune interactions revealed by single-cell analysis
This study profiled single-cell transcriptomes of PBMCs isolated from two severe COVID-19 patients that were treated with Tocilizumab. They report stage-specific populations of monocytes involved in the over-activated immune response, and also reveal the effectiveness of Tocilizumab treatment.

4. Ziegler et al., 2020., SARS-CoV-2 Receptor ACE2 is an Interferon-Stimulated Gene in Human Airway Epithelial Cells and Is Enriched in Specific Cell Subsets Across Tissues
This study leverages human and non-human primate (NHP) single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets to uncover the cell subsets that may serve as cellular targets of SARS-CoV-2. They identify ACE2/TMPRSS2 co-expressing cells within type II pneumocytes, absorptive enterocytes, and nasal goblet secretory cells.

1. Han et al., 2020., Neonatal Rhesus Macaques Have Distinct Immune Cell Transcriptional Profiles following HIV Envelope Immunization
This paper describes single-cell RNA-seq studies showing distinct transcriptome profiles in T, B, NK cells and monocytes of neonatal compared to adult macaques. They indicate neonatal transcriptome signatures with decreased immunosuppression, providing an immune setting conducive to early-life immunization

2. Horns et al., 2020., Memory B Cell Activation, Broad Anti-influenza Antibodies, and Bystander Activation Revealed by Single-Cell Transcriptomics

This paper details the molecular and cellular features of the antibody response to influenza vaccination by integrating single-cell transcriptomics, longitudinal antibody repertoire sequencing, and antibody binding measurements. Their results highlight the coordination involved in human B cells during memory recall.

1. Zheng et al., 2020., Functional exhaustion of antiviral lymphocytes in COVID-19 patients
Zheng et al. profile NK and CD8+ T cells in COVID-19 patients, and show that NKG2A+ cytotoxic lymphocytes are functionally exhausted, indicating a potential therapeutic target.

2. Diao et al., 2020, Reduction and Functional Exhaustion of T Cells in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019
This study analyzed the lymphocyte profiles of 450+ COVID-19 patients and find evidence of decreased and exhausted T-cells. Diao et al. also report the specific cytokines that directly mediate the T-cell reduction from those patient samples.

Abstracts Due: June 30, 2020

1. 2019 Novel Coronavirus Market Research Initiative (2019-nCoV Portal)

1. COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator – news release only

1.  Potential RPP, RFI or other initiatives: Dates have not been announced

1. COVID-19 Request for Project Proposals (RPP)
   Enhanced White Paper: Potential RPP – dates have not been announced

1. 2020 Omnibus Broad Agency Announcement (HHS-NIH-NIAID-BAA2020-1)
   Proposals Due: April 09, 2020
2.  NIAID and NIGMS Urgent Competitive Revisions (PA-18-935)
   Expires: February 26, 2021
3. NIAID Administrative Supplements for In-Scope Work

Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) for RAPID funding of research and projects for Coronavirus and other related issues (NSF-052) for up to $200,000 per award

• NSF encourages the research community to respond to this challenge through existing NSF funding opportunities
• Complete guidance on RAPID proposal submission
• FAQs on COVID-19 RAPID funding for Proposers and Awardees (NSF 20-053)

1. Open call for innovative capabilities – the innovations and solutions collected will be shared by default with a wide network of Government personnel; account creation required