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Moghnieh R, Haddad W, Jbeily N, El-Hassan S, Eid S, Baba H, Sily M, Saber Y, Abdallah D, Bizri AR, Sayegh MH. Immunogenicity and real-world effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in Lebanon: Insights from primary and booster schemes, variants, infections, and hospitalization. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306457. [PMID: 39269963 PMCID: PMC11398646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we conducted a case-control investigation to assess the immunogenicity and effectiveness of primary and first booster homologous and heterologous COVID-19 vaccination regimens against infection and hospitalization, targeting variants circulating in Lebanon during 2021-2022. The study population comprised active Lebanese military personnel between February 2021 and September 2022. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated hospitalization was retrospectively determined during different variant-predominant periods using a case-control study design. Vaccines developed by Sinopharm, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca as well as Sputnik V were analyzed. Prospective assessment of humoral immune response, which was measured based on the SARS-CoV-2 antispike receptor binding domain IgG titer, was performed post vaccination at various time points, focusing on Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccines. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS and GraphPad Prism. COVID-19 VE remained consistently high before the emergence of the Omicron variant, with lower estimates during the Delta wave than those during the Alpha wave for primary vaccination schemes. However, vaccines continued to offer significant protection against infection. VE estimates consistently decreased for the Omicron variant across post-vaccination timeframes and schemes. VE against hospitalization declined over time and was influenced by the variant. No breakthrough infections progressed to critical or fatal COVID-19. Immunogenicity analysis revealed that the homologous Pfizer regimen elicited a stronger humoral response than Sinopharm, while a heterologous Sinopharm/Pfizer regimen yielded comparable results to the Pfizer regimen. Over time, both Sinopharm's and Pfizer's primary vaccination schemes exhibited decreased humoral immunity titers, with Pfizer being a more effective booster than Sinopharm. This study, focusing on healthy young adults, provides insights into VE during different pandemic waves. Continuous research and monitoring are essential for understanding vaccine-mediated immune responses under evolving circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima Moghnieh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Wajdi Haddad
- Department of Internal Medicine, Central Military Hospital, Military Healthcare, Lebanese Army, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nayla Jbeily
- Head of Laboratory Department, FMPS Holding S.A.L., Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Shadi Eid
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Hicham Baba
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Marilyne Sily
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Yara Saber
- Laboratory Department, FMPS Holding S.A.L., Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Dania Abdallah
- Pharmacy Department, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Mohamed H Sayegh
- American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Health and Human Services, GAP Solutions (Contract No. 75N93019D00026), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, United States of America
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Nour D, Ismail MB, Osman M, Rafei R, Kasir D, Dabboussi F, Colson P, Hamze M. Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike antibody levels and breakthrough infection risk among vaccinated adults in North Lebanon. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302579. [PMID: 38722969 PMCID: PMC11081361 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has swiftly propagated, triggering a competitive race among medical firms to forge vaccines that thwart the infection. Lebanon initiated its vaccination campaign on February 14, 2021. Despite numerous studies conducted to elucidate the characteristics of immune responses elicited by vaccination, the topic remains unclear. Here, we aimed to track the progression of anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at two-time points (T1: shortly after the second vaccination dose, T2: six months later) within a cohort of 201 adults who received Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2), AstraZeneca, or Sputnik V vaccines in North Lebanon. Blood specimens were obtained from participants, and antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 were quantified through the Elecsys-Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland). We used univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression models to predict determinants influencing the decline in immune response and the occurrence of breakthrough infections among vaccinated patients. Among the 201 participants, 141 exhibited unchanging levels of antibody titers between the two sample collections, 55 displayed waning antibody titers, and only five participants demonstrated heightened antibody levels. Notably, age emerged as the sole variable significantly linked to the waning immune response. Moreover, the BNT162b2 vaccine exhibited significantly higher efficacy concerning the occurrence of breakthrough infections when compared with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Overall, our study reflected the immune status of a sample of vaccinated adults in North Lebanon. Further studies on a larger scale are needed at the national level to follow the immune response after vaccination, especially after the addition of the third vaccination dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalal Nour
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
- Aix-Marseille Univ., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Marseille, France
| | - Mohamad Bachar Ismail
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
- Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Marwan Osman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Rayane Rafei
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Dalal Kasir
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Fouad Dabboussi
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Philippe Colson
- Aix-Marseille Univ., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Marseille, France
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, France
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
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Bader W, Delerce J, Aherfi S, La Scola B, Colson P. Quasispecies Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 of 15 Different Lineages during the First Year of the Pandemic Prompts Scratching under the Surface of Consensus Genome Sequences. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:15658. [PMID: 36555300 PMCID: PMC9779826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The tremendous majority of SARS-CoV-2 genomic data so far neglected intra-host genetic diversity. Here, we studied SARS-CoV-2 quasispecies based on data generated by next-generation sequencing (NGS) of complete genomes. SARS-CoV-2 raw NGS data had been generated for nasopharyngeal samples collected between March 2020 and February 2021 by the Illumina technology on a MiSeq instrument, without prior PCR amplification. To analyze viral quasispecies, we designed and implemented an in-house Excel file (“QuasiS”) that can characterize intra-sample nucleotide diversity along the genomes using data of the mapping of NGS reads. We compared intra-sample genetic diversity and global genetic diversity available from Nextstrain. Hierarchical clustering of all samples based on the intra-sample genetic diversity was performed and visualized with the Morpheus web application. NGS mapping data from 110 SARS-CoV-2-positive respiratory samples characterized by a mean depth of 169 NGS reads/nucleotide position and for which consensus genomes that had been obtained were classified into 15 viral lineages were analyzed. Mean intra-sample nucleotide diversity was 0.21 ± 0.65%, and 5357 positions (17.9%) exhibited significant (>4%) diversity, in ≥2 genomes for 1730 (5.8%) of them. ORF10, spike, and N genes had the highest number of positions exhibiting diversity (0.56%, 0.34%, and 0.24%, respectively). Nine hot spots of intra-sample diversity were identified in the SARS-CoV-2 NSP6, NSP12, ORF8, and N genes. Hierarchical clustering delineated a set of six genomes of different lineages characterized by 920 positions exhibiting intra-sample diversity. In addition, 118 nucleotide positions (0.4%) exhibited diversity at both intra- and inter-patient levels. Overall, the present study illustrates that the SARS-CoV-2 consensus genome sequences are only an incomplete and imperfect representation of the entire viral population infecting a patient, and that quasispecies analysis may allow deciphering more accurately the viral evolutionary pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wahiba Bader
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 19–21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Jeremy Delerce
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 19–21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Sarah Aherfi
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 19–21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Bernard La Scola
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 19–21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Colson
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 19–21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005 Marseille, France
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Moghnieh R, El Hajj C, Abdallah D, Jbeily N, Bizri AR, Sayegh MH. Immunogenicity and Effectiveness of Primary and Booster Vaccine Combination Strategies during Periods of SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron Variants. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1596. [PMID: 36298460 PMCID: PMC9607825 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10101596] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study involving a cohort of employees of the National Airline company in Lebanon, we assessed humoral immunity levels and the effectiveness of two COVID-19 vaccines, Gam-COVID-Vac versus BNT162b2, after two doses and after a homologous and heterologous BNT162b2 booster, in addition to the impact of hybrid immunity. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was retrospectively determined against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during the periods of Delta and Omicron variants' predominance, separately, and was calculated based on a case-control study design. The humoral immune response, measured by a SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) IgG titer, was prospectively assessed after the aforementioned vaccination schemes at different time points. This study showed higher effectiveness of BNT162b2 after two doses (81%) compared to two doses of Gam-COVID-Vac (41.8%) against the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, which correlated with anti-spike antibody levels. Regarding the Omicron variant, protection against infection and antibody levels were severely compromised and the correlation between an anti-spike IgG titer and effectiveness was lost, unlike the situation during the Delta wave. Considering the booster vaccination schemes, a homologous BNT162b2 booster after a BNT162b2 primary vaccination induced a higher humoral immune response when compared to that induced by a heterologous BNT162b2 booster after a Gam-COVID-Vac primary vaccination. However, the VE of both booster regimens against the Omicron variant was almost equal (64% in the homologous regimen and 57% in heterologous regimen). Hybrid immunity evidenced a better humoral response and a greater and longer protection against Delta and Omicron infections compared to vaccination-induced immunity in COVID-19-naïve individuals. Finally, the findings show that VE waned with time during the same wave, highlighting the importance of reinforcing primary and booster COVID-19 vaccination mainly at the beginning of each wave during the surge of a new variant of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima Moghnieh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut P.O. Box 11-6301, Lebanon
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573/14, Lebanon
| | - Claude El Hajj
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573/14, Lebanon
- Middle East Airlines-AIRLIBAN S.A.L., Beirut P.O. Box 206, Lebanon
| | - Dania Abdallah
- Pharmacy Department, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut P.O. Box 11-6301, Lebanon
| | - Nayla Jbeily
- FMPS Holding S.A.L., Beirut P.O. Box 60 247, Lebanon
| | - Abdul Rahman Bizri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon
| | - Mohamed H. Sayegh
- GAP Solutions under Contract No. 75N93019D00026 with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, United States of America, Washington, DC 20201, USA
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon
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