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OBJECTIVE: Preventing severe COVID-19 remains a priority globally, particularly in the immunocompromised population. As shown in healthy individuals, immunity against SARS-CoV-2 can be yielded by previous infection, vaccination, or both (hybrid immunity). The objective of this observation study was to investigate hybrid immunity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). METHODS/RESULTS: Blood samples of six patients with CLL were collected 55 days after fourth COVID-19 vaccination. All patients had a SARS-CoV-2 infection within 12 months before the second booster (fourth vaccination). SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific IgG antibodies were detectable in 6/6 (100.0%) CLL patients after four compared to 4/6 (66.7%) after three vaccinations. The median number of SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific T cells after repeated booster vaccination plus infection was 166 spot-forming cells (SFC) per million peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Overall, 5/5 (100%) studied patients showed a detectable increase in T cell activity. CONCLUSION: Our data reveal an increase of cellular and humoral immune response in CLL patients after fourth COVID-19 vaccination combined with SARS-CoV-2 infection, even in those undergoing B cell-depleting treatment. Patients with prior vaccination failure now show a specific IgG response. Future research should explore the duration and effectiveness of hybrid immunity considering various factors like past infection and vaccination rates, types and numbers of doses, and emerging variants.
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COVID-19 , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2 , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/complicações , Leucemia Linfocítica Crônica de Células B/terapia , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Leucócitos Mononucleares , Imunoglobulina G , Complicações Pós-Operatórias , Vacinação , Imunidade Adaptativa , Anticorpos AntiviraisRESUMO
Humoral immune responses after BNT162b2 vaccination are predominantly composed of immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 and IgG3 subclass antibodies. As previously described in adults, S1-specific and receptor-binding domain-specific IgG4 levels increase significantly 1 year after the second BNT162b2 vaccination in children 5-11 years of age. Understanding mRNA vaccine-specific IgG4 responses in all age groups is crucial as more mRNA vaccines will reach licensure in the coming years.
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Besides neutralizing antibodies, which are considered an important measure for vaccine immunogenicity, Fc-mediated antibody functions can contribute to antibody-mediated protection. They are strongly influenced by structural antibody properties such as subclass and Fc glycan composition. We here applied a systems serology approach to dissect humoral immune responses induced by MVA-MERS-S, an MVA-vectored vaccine against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Building on preceding studies reporting the safety and immunogenicity of MVA-MERS-S, our study highlights the potential of a late boost, administered one year after prime, to enhance both neutralizing and Fc-mediated antibody functionality compared to the primary vaccination series. Distinct characteristics were observed for antibodies specific to the MERS-CoV spike protein S1 and S2 subunits, regarding subclass and glycan compositions as well as Fc functionality. These findings highlight the benefit of a late homologous booster vaccination with MVA-MERS-S and may be of interest for the design of future coronavirus vaccines.
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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple vaccines were developed using platforms such as viral vectors and mRNA technology. Here, we report humoral and cellular immunogenicity data from human phase 1 clinical trials investigating two recombinant Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara vaccine candidates, MVA-SARS-2-S and MVA-SARS-2-ST, encoding the native and the prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, respectively. MVA-SARS-2-ST was more immunogenic than MVA-SARS-2-S, but both were less immunogenic compared to licensed mRNA- and ChAd-based vaccines in SARS-CoV-2 naïve individuals. In heterologous vaccination, previous MVA-SARS-2-S vaccination enhanced T cell functionality and MVA-SARS-2-ST boosted the frequency of T cells and S1-specific IgG levels when used as a third vaccination. While the vaccine candidate containing the prefusion-stabilized spike elicited predominantly S1-specific responses, immunity to the candidate with the native spike was skewed towards S2-specific responses. These data demonstrate how the spike antigen conformation, using the same viral vector, directly affects vaccine immunogenicity in humans.
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BACKGROUND: Human immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines display a large heterogeneity of induced immunity and the underlying immune mechanisms for this remain largely unknown. METHODS: Using a systems biology approach, we longitudinally profiled a unique cohort of female high and low responders to the BNT162b vaccine, who were known from previous COVID-19 vaccinations to develop maximum and minimum immune responses to the vaccine. We utilized high dimensional flow cytometry, bulk and single cell mRNA sequencing and 48-plex serum cytokine analyses. FINDINGS: We revealed early, transient immunological and molecular signatures that distinguished high from low responders and correlated with B and T cell responses measured 14 days later. High responders featured a distinct transcriptional activity of interferon-driven genes and genes connected to enhanced antigen presentation. This was accompanied by a robust cytokine response related to Th1 differentiation. Both transcriptome and serum cytokine signatures were confirmed in two independent confirmatory cohorts. INTERPRETATION: Collectively, our data contribute to a better understanding of the immunogenicity of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, which might lead to the optimization of vaccine designs for individuals with poor vaccine responses. FUNDING: German Center for Infection Research, German Center for Lung Research, German Research Foundation, Excellence Strategy EXC 2155 "RESIST" and European Regional Development Fund.
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Vacinas contra COVID-19 , COVID-19 , Humanos , Feminino , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Citocinas/genética , Vacinação , Biologia de Sistemas/métodos , RNA Mensageiro , Anticorpos AntiviraisRESUMO
Memory B cells (MBCs), part of the immune response elicited by infection or vaccination, can persist in lymphoid organs and peripheral blood and are capable of rapid reactivation upon secondary antigen exposure. Here, we describe a flow cytometric assay to identify antigen-specific MBCs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and characterize their isotypes and activation status. We detail steps to use fluorescently labeled antigen probes derived from the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. These can be adapted to detect MBCs against other antigens. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Weskamm et al. (2022).1.
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COVID-19 , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus , Humanos , Leucócitos Mononucleares , Células B de Memória , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease caused by MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). In follow up to a phase 1 trial, we perform a longitudinal analysis of immune responses following immunization with the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)-based vaccine MVA-MERS-S encoding the MERS-CoV-spike protein. Three homologous immunizations were administered on days 0 and 28 with a late booster vaccination at 12 ± 4 months. Antibody isotypes, subclasses, and neutralization capacity as well as T and B cell responses were monitored over a period of 3 years using standard and bead-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 50% plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT50), enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot), and flow cytometry. The late booster immunization significantly increases the frequency and persistence of spike-specific B cells, binding immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and neutralizing antibodies but not T cell responses. Our data highlight the potential of a late boost to enhance long-term antibody and B cell immunity against MERS-CoV. Our findings on the MVA-MERS-S vaccine may be of relevance for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination strategies.