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Choy C, Chen J, Li J, Gallagher DT, Lu J, Wu D, Zou A, Hemani H, Baptiste BA, Wichmann E, Yang Q, Ciffelo J, Yin R, McKelvy J, Melvin D, Wallace T, Dunn C, Nguyen C, Chia CW, Fan J, Ruffolo J, Zukley L, Shi G, Amano T, An Y, Meirelles O, Wu WW, Chou CK, Shen RF, Willis RA, Ko MSH, Liu YT, De S, Pierce BG, Ferrucci L, Egan J, Mariuzza R, Weng NP. SARS-CoV-2 infection establishes a stable and age-independent CD8 + T cell response against a dominant nucleocapsid epitope using restricted T cell receptors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6725. [PMID: 37872153 PMCID: PMC10593757 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42430-z] [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: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The resolution of SARS-CoV-2 replication hinges on cell-mediated immunity, wherein CD8+ T cells play a vital role. Nonetheless, the characterization of the specificity and TCR composition of CD8+ T cells targeting non-spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 before and after infection remains incomplete. Here, we analyzed CD8+ T cells recognizing six epitopes from the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein and found that SARS-CoV-2 infection slightly increased the frequencies of N-recognizing CD8+ T cells but significantly enhanced activation-induced proliferation compared to that of the uninfected donors. The frequencies of N-specific CD8+ T cells and their proliferative response to stimulation did not decrease over one year. We identified the N222-230 peptide (LLLDRLNQL, referred to as LLL thereafter) as a dominant epitope that elicited the greatest proliferative response from both convalescent and uninfected donors. Single-cell sequencing of T cell receptors (TCR) from LLL-specific CD8+ T cells revealed highly restricted Vα gene usage (TRAV12-2) with limited CDR3α motifs, supported by structural characterization of the TCR-LLL-HLA-A2 complex. Lastly, transcriptome analysis of LLL-specific CD8+ T cells from donors who had expansion (expanders) or no expansion (non-expanders) after in vitro stimulation identified increased chromatin modification and innate immune functions of CD8+ T cells in non-expanders. These results suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces LLL-specific CD8+ T cell responses with a restricted TCR repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecily Choy
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jiangyuan Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - D Travis Gallagher
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Jian Lu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daichao Wu
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ainslee Zou
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Humza Hemani
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Beverly A Baptiste
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emily Wichmann
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Qian Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey Ciffelo
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rui Yin
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Julia McKelvy
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Denise Melvin
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tonya Wallace
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher Dunn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Cuong Nguyen
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Chee W Chia
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jinshui Fan
- Computational Biology and Genomics Core, Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeannie Ruffolo
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Linda Zukley
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Yang An
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Osorio Meirelles
- Laboratory of Epidemiology & Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wells W Wu
- Facility for Biotechnology Resources, CBER, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Chao-Kai Chou
- Facility for Biotechnology Resources, CBER, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Rong-Fong Shen
- Facility for Biotechnology Resources, CBER, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Richard A Willis
- NIH Tetramer Core Facility at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Supriyo De
- Computational Biology and Genomics Core, Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brian G Pierce
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Josephine Egan
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Roy Mariuzza
- W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Nan-Ping Weng
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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2
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T-Cell Mediated Response after Primary and Booster SARS-CoV-2 Messenger RNA Vaccination in Nursing Home Residents. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2023; 24:140-147.e2. [PMID: 36587928 PMCID: PMC9726683 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2022.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Nursing home (NH) residents have been significantly affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Studies addressing the immune responses induced by COVID-19 vaccines in NH residents have documented a good postvaccination antibody response and the beneficial effect of a third booster vaccine dose. Less is known about vaccine-induced activation of cell-mediated immune response in frail older individuals in the long term. The aim of the present study is to monitor messenger RNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced T-cell responses in a sample of Italian NH residents who received primary vaccine series and a third booster dose and to assess the interaction between T-cell responses and humoral immunity. DESIGN Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Thirty-four residents vaccinated with BNT162b2 messenger RNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine between February and April 2021 and who received a third BNT162b2 booster dose between October and November 2021 were assessed for vaccine-induced immunity 6 (prebooster) and 12 (postbooster) months after the first BNT162b2 vaccine dose. METHODS Pre- and postbooster cell-mediated immunity was assessed by intracellular cytokine staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated in vitro with peptides covering the immunodominant sequence of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The simultaneous production of interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-2 was measured. Humoral immunity was assessed in parallel by measuring serum concentration of antitrimeric spike IgG antibodies. RESULTS Before the booster vaccination, 31 out of 34 NH residents had a positive cell-mediated immunity response to spike. Postbooster, 28 out of 34 had a positive response. Residents without a previous history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, who had a lower response prior the booster administration, showed a greater increase of T-cell responses after the vaccine booster dose. Humoral and cell-mediated immunity were, in part, correlated but only before booster vaccine administration. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The administration of the booster vaccine dose restored spike-specific T-cell responses in SARS-CoV-2 naïve residents who responded poorly to the first immunization, while a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection had an impact on the magnitude of vaccine-induced cell-mediated immunity at earlier time points. Our findings imply the need for a continuous monitoring of the immune status of frail NH residents to adapt future SARS-CoV-2 vaccination strategies.
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3
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Tut G, Lancaster T, Krutikov M, Sylla P, Bone D, Spalkova E, Bentley C, Amin U, Jadir A, Hulme S, Kaur N, Tut E, Bruton R, Wu MY, Harvey R, Carr EJ, Beale R, Stirrup O, Shrotri M, Azmi B, Fuller C, Baynton V, Irwin-Singer A, Hayward A, Copas A, Shallcross L, Moss P. Strong peak immunogenicity but rapid antibody waning following third vaccine dose in older residents of care homes. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:93-104. [PMID: 37118525 PMCID: PMC10154221 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00328-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Third-dose coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines are being deployed widely but their efficacy has not been assessed adequately in vulnerable older people who exhibit suboptimal responses after primary vaccination series. This observational study, which was carried out by the VIVALDI study based in England, looked at spike-specific immune responses in 341 staff and residents in long-term care facilities who received an mRNA vaccine following dual primary series vaccination with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1. Third-dose vaccination strongly increased antibody responses with preferential relative enhancement in older people and was required to elicit neutralization of Omicron. Cellular immune responses were also enhanced with strong cross-reactive recognition of Omicron. However, antibody titers fell 21-78% within 100 d after vaccine and 27% of participants developed a breakthrough Omicron infection. These findings reveal strong immunogenicity of a third vaccine in one of the most vulnerable population groups and endorse an approach for widespread delivery across this population. Ongoing assessment will be required to determine the stability of immune protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokhan Tut
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Tara Lancaster
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Panagiota Sylla
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - David Bone
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Eliska Spalkova
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Christopher Bentley
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Umayr Amin
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Azar Jadir
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Samuel Hulme
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nayandeep Kaur
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Elif Tut
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Rachel Bruton
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Mary Y Wu
- Covid Surveillance Unit, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Ruth Harvey
- Worldwide Influenza Centre, The Francis Crick Institute London, London, UK
| | | | - Rupert Beale
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Genotype-to-Phenotype UK National Virology Consortium (G2P-UK), London, UK
- UCL Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Paul Moss
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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4
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Palacios-Pedrero MÁ, Jansen JM, Blume C, Stanislawski N, Jonczyk R, Molle A, Hernandez MG, Kaiser FK, Jung K, Osterhaus ADME, Rimmelzwaan GF, Saletti G. Signs of immunosenescence correlate with poor outcome of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in older adults. NATURE AGING 2022; 2:896-905. [PMID: 37118289 PMCID: PMC10154205 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00292-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is effective in preventing COVID-19 hospitalization and fatal outcome. However, several studies indicated that there is reduced vaccine effectiveness among older individuals, which is correlated with their general health status1,2. How and to what extent age-related immunological defects are responsible for the suboptimal vaccine responses observed in older individuals receiving SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA vaccine, is unclear and not fully investigated1,3-5. In this observational study, we investigated adaptive immune responses in adults of various ages (22-99 years old) receiving 2 doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Vaccine-induced Spike-specific antibody, and T and memory B cell responses decreased with increasing age. These responses positively correlated with the percentages of peripheral naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and negatively with CD8+ T cells expressing signs of immunosenescence. Older adults displayed a preferred T cell response to the S2 region of the Spike protein, which is relatively conserved and a target for cross-reactive T cells induced by human 'common cold' coronaviruses. Memory T cell responses to influenza virus were not affected by age-related changes, nor the SARS-CoV-2-specific response induced by infection. Collectively, we identified signs of immunosenescence correlating with the outcome of vaccination against a new viral antigen to which older adults are immunologically naïve. This knowledge is important for the management of COVID-19 infections in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janina M Jansen
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, Germany
| | - Cornelia Blume
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University, Hanover, Germany
| | - Nils Stanislawski
- Institute of Microelectronic Systems, Leibniz University, Hanover, Germany
| | - Rebecca Jonczyk
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University, Hanover, Germany
| | - Antonia Molle
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, Germany
| | - Mariana Gonzalez Hernandez
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, Germany
| | - Franziska K Kaiser
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, Germany
| | - Klaus Jung
- Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, Germany
| | - Albert D M E Osterhaus
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, Germany
- Global Virus Network, Center of Excellence, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Guus F Rimmelzwaan
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, Germany.
| | - Giulietta Saletti
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, Germany.
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5
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Chang AY, Babb KN. One-Year Report of COVID-19 Impact on Geriatric Patients: a Bio-Psycho-Social Approach. Can Geriatr J 2022; 25:212-221. [PMID: 35747408 PMCID: PMC9156418 DOI: 10.5770/cgj.25.553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Since December of 2019, coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly around the world. Our understanding of the infection has grown over the past year, and its impact on older adults is particularly significant. Apart from the direct impacts of COVID-19 infections, it has also led to lockdowns which, in turn, result in isolation and loneliness. Method We conducted a literature review of publicly available articles of the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the geriatric population between December 2019 and April 2021, a total of 748 articles. Results The review will be presented with the Bio-Psycho-Social model, covering how the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of health are intertwined and impact older adults. Early studies have also highlighted the prevalence of post-COVID infection symptoms that typically fall under geriatric medicine care. We highlight the bidirectional impact of isolation and COVID-19 infections on geriatric health, as well as discuss pertinent topics such as vaccine efficacy, long-term sequelae of COVID-19 infections, and ageism. Conclusion This review seeks to present a one-year report of what is known about COVID-19 and geriatric medicine, as well as provide guidance to practitioners who care for older adults based on the most up-to-date literature.
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6
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Tut G, Lancaster T, Butler MS, Sylla P, Spalkova E, Bone D, Kaur N, Bentley C, Amin U, Jadir AT, Hulme S, Ayodel M, Dowell AC, Pearce H, Zuo J, Margielewska-Davies S, Verma K, Nicol S, Begum J, Jinks E, Tut E, Bruton R, Krutikov M, Shrotri M, Giddings R, Azmi B, Fuller C, Irwin-Singer A, Hayward A, Copas A, Shallcross L, Moss P. Robust SARS-CoV-2-specific and heterologous immune responses in vaccine-naïve residents of long-term care facilities who survive natural infection. NATURE AGING 2022; 2:536-547. [PMID: 37118449 PMCID: PMC10154219 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00224-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
We studied humoral and cellular immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 152 long-term care facility staff and 124 residents over a prospective 4-month period shortly after the first wave of infection in England. We show that residents of long-term care facilities developed high and stable levels of antibodies against spike protein and receptor-binding domain. Nucleocapsid-specific responses were also elevated but waned over time. Antibodies showed stable and equivalent levels of functional inhibition against spike-angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 binding in all age groups with comparable activity against viral variants of concern. SARS-CoV-2 seropositive donors showed high levels of antibodies to other beta-coronaviruses but serostatus did not impact humoral immunity to influenza or other respiratory syncytial viruses. SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular responses were similar across all ages but virus-specific populations showed elevated levels of activation in older donors. Thus, survivors of SARS-CoV-2 infection show a robust and stable immunity against the virus that does not negatively impact responses to other seasonal viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokhan Tut
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
| | - Tara Lancaster
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Megan S Butler
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Panagiota Sylla
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Eliska Spalkova
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - David Bone
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nayandeep Kaur
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Christopher Bentley
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Umayr Amin
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Azar T Jadir
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Samuel Hulme
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Morenike Ayodel
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alexander C Dowell
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Hayden Pearce
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jianmin Zuo
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Kriti Verma
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Samantha Nicol
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jusnara Begum
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Elizabeth Jinks
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Elif Tut
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Rachel Bruton
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Paul Moss
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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7
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Coccia M. COVID-19 pandemic over 2020 (withlockdowns) and 2021 (with vaccinations): similar effects for seasonality and environmental factors. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 208:112711. [PMID: 35033552 PMCID: PMC8757643 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
How is the dynamics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 2020 with an health policy of full lockdowns and in 2021 with a vast campaign of vaccinations? The present study confronts this question here by developing a comparative analysis of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic between April-September 2020 (based upon strong control measures) and April-September 2021 (focused on health policy of vaccinations) in Italy, which was one of the first European countries to experience in 2020 high numbers of COVID-19 related infected individuals and deaths and in 2021 Italy has a high share of people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (>89% of population aged over 12 years in January 2022). Results suggest that over the period under study, the arithmetic mean of confirmed cases, hospitalizations of people and admissions to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in 2020 and 2021 is significantly equal (p-value<0.01), except fatality rate. Results suggest in December 2021 lower hospitalizations, admissions to ICUs, and fatality rate of COVID-19 than December 2020, though confirmed cases and mortality rates are in 2021 higher than 2020, and likely converging trends in the first quarter of 2022. These findings reveal that COVID-19 pandemic is driven by seasonality and environmental factors that reduce the negative effects in summer period, regardless control measures and/or vaccination campaigns. These findings here can be of benefit to design health policy responses of crisis management considering the growth of COVID-19 pandemic in winter months having reduced temperatures and low solar radiations ( COVID-19 has a behaviour of influenza-like illness). Hence, findings here suggest that strategies of prevention and control of infectious diseases similar to COVID-19 should be set up in summer months and fully implemented during low-solar-irradiation periods (autumn and winter period).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Coccia
- CNR, National Research Council of Italy - Via Real Collegio, n. 30 (Collegio Carlo Alberto), 10024, Moncalieri (TO), Italy.
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8
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Kaznadzey A, Tutukina M, Bessonova T, Kireeva M, Mazo I. BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and Sputnik V Vaccines Induce Comparable Immune Responses on a Par With Severe Course of COVID-19. Front Immunol 2022; 13:797918. [PMID: 35493476 PMCID: PMC9044856 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.797918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which have been in urgent need and development since the beginning of 2020, are aimed to induce a prominent immune system response capable of recognizing and fighting future infection. Here we analyzed the levels of IgG antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein after the administration of three types of popular vaccines, BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, or Sputnik V, using the same ELISA assay to compare their effects. An efficient immune response was observed in the majority of cases. The obtained ranges of signal values were wide, presumably reflecting specific features of the immune system of individuals. At the same time, these ranges were comparable among the three studied vaccines. The anti-RBD IgG levels after vaccination were also similar to those in the patients with moderate/severe course of the COVID-19, and significantly higher than in the individuals with asymptomatic or light symptomatic courses of the disease. No significant correlation was observed between the levels of anti-RBD IgG and sex or age of the vaccinated individuals. The signals measured at different time points for several individuals after full Sputnik V vaccination did not have a significant tendency to lower within many weeks. The rate of neutralization of the interaction of the RBD with the ACE2 receptor after vaccination with Sputnik V was on average slightly higher than in patients with a moderate/severe course of COVID-19. The importance of the second dose administration of the two-dose Sputnik V vaccine was confirmed: while several individuals had not developed detectable levels of the anti-RBD IgG antibodies after the first dose of Sputnik V, after the second dose the antibody signal became positive for all tested individuals and raised on average 5.4 fold. Finally, we showed that people previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 developed high levels of antibodies, efficiently neutralizing interaction of RBD with ACE2 after the first dose of Sputnik V, with almost no change after the second dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kaznadzey
- VirIntel, LLC, Gaithersburg, MD, United States.,Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria Tutukina
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Federal Research Center, Puschino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FRC PSCBR RAS), Pushchino, Russia
| | - Tatiana Bessonova
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Federal Research Center, Puschino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FRC PSCBR RAS), Pushchino, Russia
| | | | - Ilya Mazo
- VirIntel, LLC, Gaithersburg, MD, United States.,Argentys Informatics, LLC, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
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9
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Bell MR, Kutzler MA. An old problem with new solutions: Strategies to improve vaccine efficacy in the elderly. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 183:114175. [PMID: 35202770 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination is the most effective measure to protect against infections. However, with increasing age, there is a progressive decline in the ability of the immune system to both protect against infection and develop protective immunity from vaccination. This age-related decline of the immune system is due to age-related changes in both the innate and adaptive immune systems. With an aging world population and increased risk of pandemics, there is a need to continue to develop strategies to increase vaccine responses in the elderly. Here, the major age-related changes that occur in both the innate and adaptive immune responses that impair the response to vaccination in the elderly will be highlighted. Existing and future strategies to improve vaccine efficacy in the elderly will then be discussed, including adjuvants, delivery methods, and formulation. These strategies provide mechanisms to improve the efficacy of existing vaccines and develop novel vaccines for the elderly.
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10
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Wolszczak-Biedrzycka B, Bieńkowska A, Dorf J. Assessment of Post-Vaccination Antibody Response Eight Months after the Administration of BNT1622b2 Vaccine to Healthcare Workers with Particular Emphasis on the Impact of Previous COVID-19 Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1508. [PMID: 34960254 PMCID: PMC8704861 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9121508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
At the end of 2020, COVID-19 vaccination programs were initiated in many countries, including Poland. The first vaccine approved in Poland was the BNT162b2 mRNA preparation (Pfizer/BioNTech), and the first vaccinated group were healthcare workers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate post-vaccine antibody titers 8 months after the second vaccine dose had been administered to a group of employees of the Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Olsztyn (Poland). The employees were divided into two groups: persons who had COVID-19 in the fourth quarter of 2020 and were vaccinated in January-February 2021, and persons without a history of COVID-19 who were vaccinated during the same period. The analyzed material was venous blood serum collected from 100 hospital employees on 23-28 September 2021. The level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibodies was measured with a Roche Cobas e411 analyzer using the electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) method. The study demonstrated that persons with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection had significantly higher antibody levels (taking into account gender, age, type of work performed, and severity of post-vaccination symptoms) than employees without a history of COVID-19. The study also revealed that the type of work, age, gender, and the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection can influence the humoral immune response. The presented results may prove helpful in the context of administering additional vaccine doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka
- Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland;
- The Oncology Center of the Region of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wojska Polskiego 37, 10-228 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Anna Bieńkowska
- Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland;
- The Oncology Center of the Region of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Wojska Polskiego 37, 10-228 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Justyna Dorf
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Białystok, Waszyngtona 15A, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland;
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11
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Wong LP, Alias H, Tan YR, Tan KM. Older people and responses to COVID-19: A cross-sectional study of prevention practices and vaccination intention. Int J Older People Nurs 2021; 17:e12436. [PMID: 34846801 DOI: 10.1111/opn.12436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 is a threat to everyone's health and can be especially devastating to older individuals. AIM This study examined the behavioural prevention practices against SARS-CoV-2 infection and the intention to vaccinate among older people when the COVID-19 vaccine is on the verge of becoming available. METHOD A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted between 14th July and 8th October 2020 among the older people in Malaysia. A questionnaire was designed to assess the practice towards measures preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19 vaccination attitudes and intention. Socio-demographic characteristics, constructs of a health belief model (HBM), the 6-item state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) were correlates of the main outcomes. FINDINGS The mean score of total preventive measures scores was 13.4 ± 1.7 out of a maximum score of 15, indicating very good prevention practices. By demographics, females, having a tertiary education exhibited higher prevention practices in the univariable analyses. Components of the HBM and being female remain significant correlates of higher prevention practices in multivariable logistic regression analysis (MLRA). A total of 657 (87.1%) participants responded and intend to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Provider recommendations may improve vaccination uptake (91.6%). MLRA revealed that having a positive vaccination attitude was 16 times more likely to accept the COVID-19 vaccination (OR = 16.10; 95% CI 8.97-28.91). Hearing of someone they know who has COVID-19 serves as a cue to action and significantly influences vaccination (OR = 4.25; 95% CI 1.80-10.03). Participants below 70 years old expressed higher vaccination intention (OR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.19-3.58). CONCLUSION The results provide the first evidence for public authorities to target older people vulnerable to compliance with recommended preventive measures against SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ping Wong
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Haridah Alias
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yi Ru Tan
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kit Mun Tan
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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12
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Oyebanji OA, Wilson B, Keresztesy D, Carias L, Wilk D, Payne M, Aung H, Denis KS, Lam EC, Rowley CF, Berry SD, Cameron CM, Cameron MJ, Schmader KE, Balazs AB, King CL, Canaday DH, Gravenstein S. Does a lack of vaccine side effects correlate with reduced BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine response among healthcare workers and nursing home residents? Aging Clin Exp Res 2021; 33:3151-3160. [PMID: 34652783 PMCID: PMC8518269 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-021-01987-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination has mitigated the burden of COVID-19 among residents of long-term care facilities considerably, despite being excluded from the vaccine trials. Data on reactogenicity (vaccine side effects) in this population are limited. AIMS To assess reactogenicity among nursing home (NH) residents. To provide a plausible proxy for predicting vaccine response among this population. METHODS We enrolled and sampled NH residents and community-dwelling healthcare workers who received the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, to assess local or systemic reactogenicity and antibody levels (immunogenicity). RESULTS NH residents reported reactions at a much lower frequency and lesser severity than the community-dwelling healthcare workers. These reactions were mild and transient with all subjects experiencing more local than systemic reactions. Based on our reactogenicity and immunogenicity data, we developed a linear regression model predicting log-transformed anti-spike, anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD), and neutralizing titers, with a dichotomous variable indicating the presence or absence of reported reactions which revealed a statistically significant effect, with estimated shifts in log-transformed titers ranging from 0.32 to 0.37 (all p < 0.01) indicating greater immunogenicity in subjects with one or more reported reactions of varying severity. DISCUSSION With a significantly lower incidence of post-vaccination reactions among NH residents as reported in this study, the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine appears to be well-tolerated among this vulnerable population. If validated in larger populations, absence of reactogenicity could help guide clinicians in prioritizing vaccine boosters. CONCLUSIONS Reactogenicity is significantly mild among nursing home residents and overall, subjects who reported post-vaccination reactions developed higher antibody titers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brigid Wilson
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Debbie Keresztesy
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Lenore Carias
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Dennis Wilk
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Michael Payne
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Htin Aung
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kerri St Denis
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Evan C Lam
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christopher F Rowley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah D Berry
- Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cheryl M Cameron
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mark J Cameron
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kenneth E Schmader
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Health Care System and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - David H Canaday
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Stefan Gravenstein
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
- Center on Innovation in Long-Term Services and Supports, Providence Veterans Administration Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA.
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13
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Weng NP, Pawelec G. Validation of the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in older adults in "real-world" settings. Immun Ageing 2021; 18:36. [PMID: 34551812 PMCID: PMC8455805 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-021-00248-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The rapidity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination around the world has substantially reduced the number of new cases of COVID-19 and their severity in highly vaccinated countries. The unanticipated efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in older adults has been very encouraging but the longevity of vaccine immunity is currently unknown and protection against emerging variants may be lower. Adoptive immunotherapy with neutralizing mAb may offer an alternative for poor vaccine responders, while the mechanisms underlying failure to respond are still unclear. Further studies of B and T cell responses and their regulation particularly in older populations will provide a more solid foundation to develop suitable approaches to optimize vaccine responses of older adults who fail to mount a durable response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan-Ping Weng
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Graham Pawelec
- Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
- Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
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14
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Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, Anti-Ad5 Antibodies, and Reactogenicity in Response to Ad5-nCoV (CanSino Biologics) Vaccine in Individuals with and without Prior SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9091047. [PMID: 34579284 PMCID: PMC8472849 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9091047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This is the first study outside of clinical trials (phase I–III) evaluating the ability of the Ad5-nCoV vaccine to generate neutralizing antibodies and the factors associated with optimal or suboptimal response. In a longitudinal assay, 346 people (117 with prior COVID-19 and 229 without prior COVID-19) vaccinated with Ad5-nCoV were recruited. The percentage of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test) and antibodies against Ad5 (ADV-Ad5 IgG ELISA) were quantified pre and post-vaccination effects. The Ad5-nCoV vaccine induces higher neutralizing antibodies percentage in individuals with prior COVID-19 than those without prior COVID-19 (median [IQR]: 98% [97–98.1] vs. 72% [54–90], respectively; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a natural infection (before vaccination) induces more neutralizing antibodies percentage than immunized individuals without prior COVID-19 (p < 0.01). No patient had vaccine-severe adverse effects. The age, antidepressant, and immunosuppressive treatments, reactogenicity, and history of COVID-19 are associated with impaired antibody production. The anti-Ad5 antibodies increased after 21 days of post-vaccination in all groups (p < 0.01). We recommend the application of a booster dose of Ad5-nCoV, especially for those individuals without previous COVID-19 infection. Finally, the induction of anti-Ad5 antibodies after vaccination should be considered if a booster with the same vaccine is planned.
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15
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Pawelec G, McElhaney J. Improving seasonal influenza vaccination for older adults. IMMUNITY & AGEING 2021; 18:13. [PMID: 33712004 PMCID: PMC7952500 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-021-00224-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Graham Pawelec
- Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. .,Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Janet McElhaney
- Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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