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Barabona G, Ngare I, Kamori D, Nkinda L, Kosugi Y, Mawazo A, Ekwabi R, Kinasa G, Chuwa H, Sato K, Sunguya B, Ueno T. Neutralizing immunity against coronaviruses in Tanzanian health care workers. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5508. [PMID: 38448564 PMCID: PMC10917759 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55989-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The ongoing vaccination efforts and exposure to endemic and emerging coronaviruses can shape the population's immunity against this group of viruses. In this study, we investigated neutralizing immunity against endemic and emerging coronaviruses in 200 Tanzanian frontline healthcare workers (HCWs). Despite low vaccination rates (19.5%), we found a high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence (94.0%), indicating high exposure in these HCWs. Next, we determined the neutralization capacity of antisera against human coronavirus NL63, and 229E, SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 (including Omicron subvariants: BA.1, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.5) using pseudovirus neutralization assay. We observed a broad range of neutralizing activity in HCWs, but no neutralization activity detected against MERS-CoV. We also observed a strong correlation between neutralizing antibody titers for SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1, but not between other coronaviruses. Cross-neutralization titers against the newer Omicron subvariants, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.5, was significantly reduced compared to BA.1 and BA.2 subvariants. On the other hand, the exposed vaccinated HCWs showed relatively higher median cross-neutralization titers against both the newer Omicron subvariants and SARS-CoV-1, but did not reach statistical significance. In summary, our findings suggest a broad range of neutralizing potency against coronaviruses in Tanzanian HCWs with detectable neutralizing immunity against SARS-CoV-1 resulting from SARS-CoV-2 exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey Barabona
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Isaac Ngare
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Doreen Kamori
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Collaboration Unit for Infection, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Lilian Nkinda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Yusuke Kosugi
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ambele Mawazo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rayi Ekwabi
- Amana Regional Referral Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | | - Kei Sato
- Collaboration Unit for Infection, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
- International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- International Vaccine Design Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan
| | - Bruno Sunguya
- Collaboration Unit for Infection, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Takamasa Ueno
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Sid Ahmed S, Bajak K, Fackler OT. Beyond Impairment of Virion Infectivity: New Activities of the Anti-HIV Host Cell Factor SERINC5. Viruses 2024; 16:284. [PMID: 38400059 PMCID: PMC10892966 DOI: 10.3390/v16020284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Members of the serine incorporator (SERINC) protein family exert broad antiviral activity, and many viruses encode SERINC antagonists to circumvent these restrictions. Significant new insight was recently gained into the mechanisms that mediate restriction and antagonism. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the mode of action and relevance of SERINC proteins in HIV-1 infection. Particular focus will be placed on recent findings that provided important new mechanistic insights into the restriction of HIV-1 virion infectivity, including the discovery of SERINC's lipid scramblase activity and its antagonism by the HIV-1 pathogenesis factor Nef. We also discuss the identification and implications of several additional antiviral activities by which SERINC proteins enhance pro-inflammatory signaling and reduce viral gene expression in myeloid cells. SERINC proteins emerge as versatile and multifunctional regulators of cell-intrinsic immunity against HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samy Sid Ahmed
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Integrative Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.S.A.); (K.B.)
| | - Kathrin Bajak
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Integrative Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.S.A.); (K.B.)
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, 38124 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver T. Fackler
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Integrative Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.S.A.); (K.B.)
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, 38124 Heidelberg, Germany
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