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Aregay A, Slunečko J, Korva M, Bogovic P, Resman Rus K, Knap N, Beicht J, Kubinski M, Saletti G, Avšič-Županc T, Steffen I, Strle F, Osterhaus ADME, Rimmelzwaan GF. Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine breakthrough infections induce aberrant T cell and antibody responses to non-structural proteins. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:141. [PMID: 39112523 PMCID: PMC11306791 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00936-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) vaccine breakthrough (VBT) infections are not uncommon in endemic areas. The clinical and immunological outcomes have been poorly investigated. We assessed the magnitude and specificity of virus-specific antibody and T cell responses after TBE in previously vaccinated subjects and compared the results with those of unvaccinated TBE patients and study subjects that received vaccination without VBT infection. Symptomatic TBEV infection of unvaccinated study subjects induced virus-specific antibody responses to the E protein and non-structural protein 1 (NS1) as well as T cell responses to structural and other non-structural (NS) proteins. After VBT infections, significantly impaired NS1-specific antibody responses were observed, while the virus-specific T cell responses to the NS proteins were relatively strong. VBT infection caused predominantly moderate to severe disease during hospitalization. The level of TBEV EDIII- and NS1-specific antibodies in unvaccinated convalescent patients inversely correlated with TBE severity and neurological symptoms early after infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amare Aregay
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan Slunečko
- Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miša Korva
- Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Petra Bogovic
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katarina Resman Rus
- Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nataša Knap
- Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jana Beicht
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mareike Kubinski
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Giulietta Saletti
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tatjana Avšič-Županc
- Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Imke Steffen
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Franc Strle
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Albert D M E Osterhaus
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Guus F Rimmelzwaan
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
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Ackermann-Gäumann R, Lang P, Zens KD. Defining the "Correlate(s) of Protection" to tick-borne encephalitis vaccination and infection - key points and outstanding questions. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1352720. [PMID: 38318179 PMCID: PMC10840404 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1352720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE) is a severe disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The generation of protective immunity after TBEV infection or TBE vaccination relies on the integrated responses of many distinct cell types at distinct physical locations. While long-lasting memory immune responses, in particular, form the basis for the correlates of protection against many diseases, these correlates of protection have not yet been clearly defined for TBE. This review addresses the immune control of TBEV infection and responses to TBE vaccination. Potential correlates of protection and the durability of protection against disease are discussed, along with outstanding questions in the field and possible areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahel Ackermann-Gäumann
- Microbiologie, ADMED Analyses et Diagnostics Médicaux, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
- Swiss National Reference Center for Tick-transmitted Diseases, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
| | - Phung Lang
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kyra D. Zens
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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