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Harthaller T, Falkensammer B, Bante D, Huber M, Schmitt M, Benainouna H, Rössler A, Fleischer V, von Laer D, Kimpel J, Würzner R, Borena W. Retained avidity despite reduced cross-binding and cross-neutralizing antibody levels to Omicron after SARS-COV-2 wild-type infection or mRNA double vaccination. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1196988. [PMID: 37545492 PMCID: PMC10401431 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1196988] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has posed a challenge to long-lasting immunity against the novel virus. Apart from neutralizing function, binding antibodies induced by vaccination or infection play an important role in containing the infection. Methods To determine the proportion of wild-type (WT)-generated antibodies recognizant of more recent variants, plasma samples from either SARS-CoV-2 WT-infected (n = 336) or double-mRNA (Comirnaty)-vaccinated individuals (n = 354, age and sex matched to the convalescent group) were analyzed for binding antibody capacity against the S1 protein of the BA.1 omicron variant. Results Overall, 38.59% (95% CI, 37.01- 40.20) of WT-generated antibodies recognized Omicron BA.1 S1 protein [28.83% (95% CI, 26.73-30.91) after infection and 43.46% (95% CI, 41.61-45.31) after vaccination; p < 0.001]. Although the proportion of WT-generated binding and neutralizing antibodies also binding to BA.1 is substantially reduced, the avidity of the remaining antibodies against the Omicron variant was non-inferior to that of the ancestral virus: Omicron: 39.7% (95% CI: 38.1-41.3) as compared to the avidity to WT: 27.0% (95% CI, 25.5-28.4), respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, we noticed a modestly yet statistically significant higher avidity toward the Omicron epitopes among the vaccinated group (42.2%; 95% CI, 40.51-43.94) as compared to the convalescent counterparts (36.4%; 95% CI, 33.42-38.76) (p = 0.003), even after adjusting for antibody concentration. Discussion Our results suggest that an aspect of functional immunity against the novel strain was considerably retained after WT contact, speculatively counteracting the impact of immune evasion toward neutralization of the strain. Higher antibody levels and cross-binding capacity among vaccinated individuals suggest an advantage of repeated exposure in generating robust immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Harthaller
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Barbara Falkensammer
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - David Bante
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maria Huber
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Melanie Schmitt
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Habib Benainouna
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Annika Rössler
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Verena Fleischer
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dorothee von Laer
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Janine Kimpel
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Reinhard Würzner
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Wegene Borena
- Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Institute of Virology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
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Atef S, Al Hosani F, AbdelWareth L, Al-Rifai RH, Abuyadek R, Jabari A, Ali R, Altrabulsi B, Dunachie S, Alatoom A, Donnelly JG. Susceptibility to reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 virus relative to existing antibody concentrations and T cell response. Int J Infect Dis 2023; 131:100-110. [PMID: 36702370 PMCID: PMC9870609 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We investigated the reinfection rate of vaccinated or convalescent immunized SARS-CoV-2 in 952 expatriate workers with SARS-CoV-2 serological antibody (Ab) patterns and surrogate T cell memory at recruitment and follow-up. METHODS Trimeric spike, nucleocapsid, and neutralizing Abs were measured, along with a T cell stimulation assay, targeting SARS-CoV-2 memory in clusters of differentiation (CD) 4+ and CD8+ T cells. The subjects were then followed up for reinfection for up to 6 months. RESULTS The seroprevalence positivity at enrollment was greater than 99%. The T cell reactivity in this population was 38.2%. Of the 149 (15.9%) participants that were reinfected during the follow-up period (74.3%) had nonreactive T cells at enrollment. Those who had greater than 100 binding Ab units/ml increase from the median concentration of antispike immunoglobulin G Abs had a 6% reduction in the risk of infection. Those who were below the median concentration had a 78% greater risk of infection. CONCLUSION Significant immune protection from reinfection was observed in those who retained T cell activation memory. Additional protection was observed when the antispike was greater than the median value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shereen Atef
- National Reference Laboratory, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | | | - Laila AbdelWareth
- National Reference Laboratory, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rami H Al-Rifai
- Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rowan Abuyadek
- Abu Dhabi Public Health Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Andrea Jabari
- New-York University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Raghib Ali
- New-York University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Basel Altrabulsi
- National Reference Laboratory, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Adnan Alatoom
- National Reference Laboratory, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Scola L, Ferraro D, Sanfilippo GL, De Grazia S, Lio D, Giammanco GM. Age and Cytokine Gene Variants Modulate the Immunogenicity and Protective Effect of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-Based Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020413. [PMID: 36851291 PMCID: PMC9962548 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The introduction of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in late 2020 substantially changed the pandemic picture, inducing effective protection in the population. However, individual variability was observed with different levels of cellular response and neutralizing antibodies. We report data on the impact of age, gender, and 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cytokine genes on the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers measured 31 and 105 days after administration of the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine to 122 healthy subjects from the health care staff of the Palermo University Hospital, Italy. The higher titers at 31 days were measured in the younger subjects and in subjects bearing T-positive genotypes of IL-1R1 rs2234650 or the GG homozygous genotype of IL-6 rs1800795 SNP. T-positive genotypes are also significantly more common in subjects with higher titers at day 105. In addition, in this group of subjects, the frequency of the CT genotype of IL-4 rs2243250 is higher among those vaccinated with higher titers. Moreover, these SNPs and TNFA rs1800629 are differently distributed in a group of subjects that were found infected by SARS-CoV-2 at day 105 of evaluation. Finally, subjects that were found to be infected by SARS-CoV-2 at day 105 were significantly older than the uninfected subjects. Taken together, these data seem to suggest that age and polymorphisms of key cytokines, which regulate inflammation and humoral immune response, might influence the magnitude of the antibody response to vaccination with BNT162B2, prompting speculation about the possible benefit of a genetic background-based assessment of a personalized approach to the anti-COVID vaccination schedule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Scola
- Clinical Pathology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, Corso Tukory, 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Donatella Ferraro
- Microbiology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Luisa Sanfilippo
- Microbiology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona De Grazia
- Microbiology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Domenico Lio
- Interdepartmental Research Center “Migrate”, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-91-6555913
| | - Giovanni Maurizio Giammanco
- Microbiology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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High Prevalence of Undocumented SARS-CoV-2 Infections in the Pediatric Population of the Tyrolean District of Schwaz. Viruses 2022; 14:v14102294. [PMID: 36298849 PMCID: PMC9609860 DOI: 10.3390/v14102294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Complementing the adult seroprevalence data collected at the time of the rapid SARS-CoV-2 mass vaccination in the district of Schwaz in 2021, we set out to establish the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among the pediatric population of the district. A total of 369 children, mean age 9.9 (SD 3.4), participated in the study, answering a structured questionnaire on the history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, household contacts, symptoms and history of vaccination. We determined binding and neutralizing antibody levels using plasma samples provided. We estimated the overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the general pediatric population at the time of the study using the census data from Statistik Austria and daily reports of officially confirmed cases. Excluding study participants who reported a history of PCR-confirmed infection, the age-standardized seroprevalence of previously unknown SARS-CoV-2 infection among the general pediatric population of the district was 27% (95% CI: 26.1–27.8). Adding this to the officially documented cases, the true overall prevalence was 32.8% (95% CI: 31.9–33.6) in contrast to the officially documented 8.0% (95% CI: 7.5–8.5) by June 2021. This translated into a proportion of 75.7% (95% CI: 74.4–77.0) of cases being officially undocumented, suggesting a high extent of silent SARS-CoV-2 infections in the pediatric population and possibly silent transmission.
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