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Mai F, Kordt M, Bergmann-Ewert W, Reisinger EC, Müller-Hilke B. NVX-CoV2373 induces humoral and cellular immune responses that are functionally comparable to vector and mRNA-based vaccines. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1359475. [PMID: 38562927 PMCID: PMC10982398 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1359475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background After licensing of the protein-based vaccine NVX-CoV2373, three technically different vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 became available for application to the human population - and for comparison of efficacies. Methods We here recruited 42 study participants who had obtained one initial dose of NVX-CoV2373 and analyzed their immune responses in contrast to 37 study participants who had obtained either the vector vaccine AZD1222 or the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 a year earlier. 32 participants also donated blood before first vaccination to serve as a vaccine-naive control. In detail, we investigated and quantified at day 21 and approximately six months after primary immunization the amounts of vaccine-specific antibodies produced, their neutralization capacity, their quality in terms of binding different epitopes and their efficiency in inducing various isotypes. Cellular immunity and intracellular cytokine production following in vitro re-stimulation with BNT162b2 vaccine was analyzed via ELISpot or via flow cytometry. Results Our results show that even though vaccination including the mRNA vaccine yielded best results in almost any aspect of antibody levels and binding efficiency, the neutralization capacities against the wild-type Wuhan strain and the Omicron BA.1 variant early and at six months were comparable among all three vaccination groups. As for the T cells, we observed a prevailing CD8 response at three weeks which turned into a predominant CD4 memory at six months which has not yet been observed for AZD1222 and BNT162b2. While additional infection with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in a boost for the humoral response, T cell memory appeared rather unaffected. Conclusion Whether any of these differences translate into real world protection from infection, mitigation of severe disease courses and prevention of long/post COVID will need to be investigated in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Mai
- Institute of Immunology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Marcel Kordt
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Wendy Bergmann-Ewert
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Emil C. Reisinger
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Brigitte Müller-Hilke
- Institute of Immunology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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Bischofsberger M, Reinholdt C, Dannenhaus TA, Aleith J, Bergmann-Ewert W, Müller-Hilke B, Löbermann M, Reisinger EC, Sombetzki M. Individually or as a Team-The Immunological Milieu in the Lung Caused by Migrating Single-Sex or Mixed-Sex Larvae of Schistosoma mansoni. Pathogens 2023; 12:1432. [PMID: 38133315 PMCID: PMC10746046 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
While the lung is considered an efficient site for stopping the larvae of the acute Schistosoma spp. infection phase from migrating through extensive inflammatory responses in the surrounding tissues, little is known about these processes. To date, the highest resistance to infection has been achieved in experimental studies with radiation-attenuated cercariae immunization, which elicits a strong Th1/Th2 response in the lung and results in up to 80% protection. Based on our own studies demonstrating a systemic, unpolarized Th1/Th2 response resulting from infection with male or female Schistosoma mansoni, we hypothesize that this atypical immune response is already detectable during the pulmonary passage of parasite larvae. Therefore, we examined the immune milieu in the lungs of mice caused by migrating schistosome larvae, either male or female (single-sex groups) or male + female (bisexual control), 4 and 16 days after infection in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue by flow cytometry, qPCR, and multiplex analyzes. Our results show only minor differences in the inflammatory profile between the single-sex groups but significant differences compared with the bisexual control group. Both single-sex infected groups have increased expression of inflammatory markers in lung tissue, higher numbers of cytotoxic T cells (day 4 post-infection) and more T helper cells (day 16 post-infection), compared with the bisexual control group. A single-sex infection, regardless of whether it is an infection with male or female cercariae, causes an immune milieu in the lung that is clearly different from an infection with both sexes. In terms of identifying therapeutic targets to achieve resistance to re-infection, it is of great scientific interest to identify the differences in the inflammatory potential of male or female and male + female parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Bischofsberger
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
| | - Cindy Reinholdt
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
| | - Tim Alexander Dannenhaus
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
| | - Johann Aleith
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (J.A.); (B.M.-H.)
| | - Wendy Bergmann-Ewert
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (J.A.); (B.M.-H.)
| | - Brigitte Müller-Hilke
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (J.A.); (B.M.-H.)
| | - Micha Löbermann
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
| | - Emil C. Reisinger
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
| | - Martina Sombetzki
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
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Maletzki C, Freiin Grote V, Kalle F, Kleitke T, Zimpfer A, Becker AS, Bergmann-Ewert W, Jonitz-Heincke A, Bader R, Vollmar B, Hackenberg S, Scherzad A, Mlynski R, Strüder D. Establishing safe high hydrostatic pressure devitalization thresholds for autologous head and neck cancer vaccination and reconstruction. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:390. [PMID: 37872173 PMCID: PMC10593744 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01671-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
High hydrostatic pressure specifically devitalizes cells and tissues without major changes in their molecular structure. Hence, high hydrostatic pressure may enhance the development of whole-cell anti-tumor vaccines, representing tumor heterogeneity and thus (neo-) antigen diversity. Moreover, safe devitalization of tumor-infiltrated supporting tissue may facilitate reimplantation for functional reconstruction. However, precise high hydrostatic pressure thresholds for safe cancer cell killing are unknown. Here, we show that high hydrostatic pressure of at least 450 MPa is necessary to safely devitalize head and neck squamous cell cancer. A pressure of 300 MPa, which has been used frequently in cancer vaccine preparation, resulted in partial devitalization with 27% live cells in flow cytometry and 4% remaining autofluorescence in cell culture after one week. The remaining cells could form vital tumors in the chorioallantoic membrane assay. In contrast, 450 MPa killed all cells in vitro and prevented tumor outgrowth in ovo. The effectiveness of 450 MPa was attributed to the induction of DNA double-strand breaks, independent of apoptosis, autophagy, or methuosis. Furthermore, 450 MPa continued to induce immunogenic cell death. Our results demonstrate that 450 MPa of high hydrostatic pressure induces safe and sustained devitalization of head and neck cancer cells and tissues. Because of the heterogeneity in pressure resistance, we propose our approach as a starting point for determining the precise thresholds for other cancer entities. Further studies on head and neck cancer should focus on immunological co-cultures, combinations of immune checkpoint inhibition, and accurate anatomical reconstruction with pressure-treated autografts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Maletzki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Vivica Freiin Grote
- Research Laboratory for Biomechanics and Implant Technology, Department of Orthopedics, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
| | - Friederike Kalle
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery "Otto Körner", Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Thoralf Kleitke
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery "Otto Körner", Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Annette Zimpfer
- Institute of Pathology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Anne-Sophie Becker
- Institute of Pathology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Wendy Bergmann-Ewert
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Anika Jonitz-Heincke
- Research Laboratory for Biomechanics and Implant Technology, Department of Orthopedics, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
| | - Rainer Bader
- Research Laboratory for Biomechanics and Implant Technology, Department of Orthopedics, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
| | - Brigitte Vollmar
- Institute for Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Stephan Hackenberg
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Agmal Scherzad
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Robert Mlynski
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery "Otto Körner", Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Daniel Strüder
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery "Otto Körner", Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.
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