Dynamics of humoral and cellular immune responses after homologous and heterologous SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and BNT162b2.

BACKGROUND: Vaccines are an important means to overcome the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. They induce specific antibody and T-cell responses but it remains open how well vaccine-induced immunity is preserved over time following homologous and heterologous immunization regimens. Here, we compared the dynamics of humoral and cellular immune responses up to 180 days after homologous or heterologous vaccination with either ChAdOx1-nCoV-19 (ChAd) or BNT162b2 (BNT) or both. METHODS: Various tests were used to determine the humoral and cellular immune response. To quantify the antibody levels, we used the surrogate neutralization (sVNT) assay from YHLO, which we augmented with pseudo- and real virus neutralization tests (pVNT and rVNT). Antibody avidity was measured by a modified ELISA. To determine cellular reactivity, we used an IFN-γ Elispot, IFN-γ/IL Flurospot, and intracellular cytokine staining. FINDINGS: Antibody responses significantly waned after vaccination, irrespective of the regimen. The capacity to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 - including variants of concern such as Delta or Omicron - was superior after heterologous compared to homologous BNT vaccination, both of which resulted in longer-lasting humoral immunity than homologous ChAd immunization. All vaccination regimens induced stable, polyfunctional T-cell responses. INTERPRETATION: These findings demonstrate that heterologous vaccination with ChAd and BNT is a potent alternative to induce humoral and cellular immune protection in comparison to the homologous vaccination regimens. FUNDING: The study was funded by the German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), the European Union's "Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme" under grant agreement No. 101037867 (VACCELERATE), the "Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst" for the CoVaKo-2021 and the For-COVID projects and the Helmholtz Association via the collaborative research program "CoViPa". Further support was obtained from the Federal Ministry of Education and Science (BMBF) through the "Netzwerk Universitätsmedizin", project "B-Fast" and "Cov-Immune". KS is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, 01KI2013) and the Else Kröner-Stiftung (2020_EKEA.127).

Dynamics of spike-and nucleocapsid specific immunity during long-term follow-up and vaccination of SARS-CoV-2 convalescents.

Anti-viral immunity continuously declines over time after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we characterize the dynamics of anti-viral immunity during long-term follow-up and after BNT162b2 mRNA-vaccination in convalescents after asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Virus-specific and virus-neutralizing antibody titers rapidly declined in convalescents over 9 months after infection, whereas virus-specific cytokine-producing polyfunctional T cells persisted, among which IL-2-producing T cells correlated with virus-neutralizing antibody titers. Among convalescents, 5% of individuals failed to mount long-lasting immunity after infection and showed a delayed response to vaccination compared to 1% of naïve vaccinees, but successfully responded to prime/boost vaccination. During the follow-up period, 8% of convalescents showed a selective increase in virus-neutralizing antibody titers without accompanying increased frequencies of circulating SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells. The same convalescents, however, responded to vaccination with simultaneous increase in antibody and T cell immunity revealing the strength of mRNA-vaccination to increase virus-specific immunity in convalescents.

Three exposures to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 by either infection or vaccination elicit superior neutralizing immunity to all variants of concern.

Infection-neutralizing antibody responses after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination are an essential component of antiviral immunity. Antibody-mediated protection is challenged by the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs) with immune escape properties, such as omicron (B.1.1.529), which is rapidly spreading worldwide. Here we report neutralizing antibody dynamics in a longitudinal cohort of coronavirus disease 2019 convalescent and infection-naive individuals vaccinated with mRNA BNT162b2 by quantifying SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies and determining their avidity and neutralization capacity in serum. Using live-virus neutralization assays, we show that a superior infection-neutralizing capacity against all VoCs, including omicron, developed after either two vaccinations in convalescents or a third vaccination or breakthrough infection of twice-vaccinated, naive individuals. These three consecutive spike antigen exposures resulted in an increasing neutralization capacity per anti-spike antibody unit and were paralleled by stepwise increases in antibody avidity. We conclude that an infection-plus-vaccination-induced hybrid immunity or a triple immunization can induce high-quality antibodies with superior neutralization capacity against VoCs, including omicron.

Spiroconjugation in spirodicorrolato-dinickel(II).

In the present work the effect of spiroconjugation on the electronic spectrum of the recently synthesized metal complex hexadecaethylspirodicorrolato-dinickel(II) (5) (the corrole units in 5 are isoforms) is investigated. To have a suitable reference compound at our disposal, tetraethylhexamethylisocorrolato nickel(II) (7) has been prepared. On comparing the electronic spectra of this reference compound and the spiro-complex, bathochromic shifts of all absorption bands in the NIR/Vis-region are observed for the latter as well as marked changes in the spectral intensities. A detailed analysis of the spectra supported by semiempirical calculations reveals that at least part of the observed changes can be unambiguously attributed to the spiro effect. This effect is further affirmed by electrochemically measured redox potentials.

Metal complexes of porphycene, corrphycene, and hemiporphycene: stability and coordination chemistry.

Porphyrin (P), porphycene (Pc), corrphycene (Cn), and hemiporphycene (Hpc) represent a series of well defined "4-N in" constitutional porphyrin isomers. These isomers, in the form of their octaethyl derivatives, represent a congruent set of porphyrinoids whose properties can be compared. In this study we report how variations in electronic structure and nitrogen-core size in the free-base forms of these four systems are reflected in the properties of their corresponding metal complexes. Specifically, the effects that these differences have on the axial ligation properties of the Zn(II), Mg(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) complexes of P, Pc, Cn, and Hpc in toluene using pyridine as the axial ligand are detailed. Also reported are the relative stabilities of these complexes under acidic conditions. It is shown that for the zinc, magnesium, and cobalt complexes, there are distinct differences in the ability to maintain four-, five-, or six-coordinate geometries in the presence of similar concentrations of pyridine. By contrast, no apparent differences in axial ligand binding affinity are seen for the four nickel complexes. Little difference in stability was likewise seen when these same complexes were subject to acid-mediated demetallation, with all four falling into stability class II, according to the accepted porphyrin stability ranking system. High stabilities were also seen in the case of the cobalt complexes, with the Pc and Cn complexes being of stability class III and the P and Hpc derivatives falling into stability class II. The Zn(II) and Mg(II) complexes were all far less stable than the corresponding Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes. In this case, semiquantitative analyses of the rate of acid-induced decomposition revealed the following stability sequence P>Cn>Hpc>Pc for both the Zn(II) and Mg(II) complexes. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures were solved for the Zn(II), Mg(II), and Ni(II) complexes of the octaethyl derivatives of Hpc, Cn, and Pc as well as a Co(II) octamethylcorrphycene and are reported as part of this study. These solid-state structures confirm four-coordinate species for the Ni(II) complexes, four- and five-coordinate species for the Mg(II) and Zn(II) complexes, and a six-coordinate species for the lone Co(II) complex.

Five-coordinate iron(III) porphycenes: (1)H NMR, magnetic, and structural studies.

Five-coordinate iron(III) 2,7,12,17-tetrapropylporphycene (TPrPc)Fe(III)X (X = C(6)H(5)O(-), Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), ClO(4)(-)) complexes have been investigated. The (1)H NMR spectra demonstrate downfield shifts for pyrrole resonances [(TPrPc)Fe(III)(C(6)H(5)O), 65.3 ppm; (TPrPc)Fe(III)Cl, 28.5 ppm] but large upfield ones for (TPrPc)Fe(III)Br (-7.8 ppm), (TPrPc)Fe(III)I (-49.4 ppm), and (TPrPc)Fe(III)ClO(4) (-77.1 ppm) (294 K, CD(2)Cl(2)). The pyrrole chemical shifts span the remarkable +70 to -80 ppm range. The variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectra of (TPrPc)Fe(III)X demonstrate anti-Curie behavior with a sign reversal for (TPrPc)Fe(III)Cl. These behaviors are consistent with the admixed S = 3/2, 5/2 ground electronic state with a dominating contribution of the S = 3/2 one. In terms of the chemical shift, (TPrPc)Fe(III)(ClO(4)) can be considered as an example of the purest S = 3/2 state in the investigated series. The extent of the S = 5/2 contribution in the admixed S = 3/2, 5/2 ground electronic state, as gradated solely the basis of the pyrrole proton paramagnetic shifts, is controlled by the strength of the axial ligand, following the magnetochemical series (Evans, D. R.; Reed, C. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 4660). Significantly iron(III) 2,7,12,17-tetrapropylporphycene, soluble in typical organic solvents, can be considered as a universal framework to classify the ligand strength in a magnetochemical series, consistently using the beta-H pyrrole paramagnetic shifts as a fundamental criterion. The structure of (TPrPc)Fe(III)Cl has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The iron is five-coordinate with bonds of nearly equal length to the four pyrrole nitrogen atoms (Fe-N in the range 1.983(5)-2.006(6) A). The iron lies 0.583(1) A out of the mean plane of the macrocycle and 0.502(5) A out of the mean N(4) plane. In the solid, pairs of molecules are positioned about the center of symmetry so there is face-to-face pi-pi contact. The mean plane separation is 3.38 A, and the lateral shift of the porphycene center along the Fe-N bond is 4.490 A. The distance from one porphycene center to the other is 5.62 A, and the iron-iron separation is 6.304(2) A.

X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Porphycenes: Charge Asymmetry Across Low-Barrier Hydrogen Bonds.

It is ironic that although it is typically a technique that "sees" all elements other than hydrogen atoms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) acts as a sensitive probe of low-barrier hydrogen bonds, as seen in a study of free-base tetrapyrroles. The nitrogen 1s XPS peaks never quite coalesce, even when the N⋅⋅⋅H⋅⋅⋅N hydrogen bonds are almost perfectly symmetrical, as is the case for dibenzo[cde,mno]porphycenes.

Synthesis and Electrochemistry of Tin(IV) Octaethylcorroles, (OEC)Sn(C(6)H(5)) and (OEC)SnCl.

Two Sn(IV) corroles were synthesized and electrochemically examined. The investigated compounds are represented as (OEC)Sn(C(6)H(5)) and (OEC)SnCl, where OEC = trianion of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylcorrole. (OEC)Sn(C(6)H(5)) represents the first example of a sigma-bonded metallocorrole which does not undergo a metal-centered electrode reaction. Both compounds undergo three reversible one-electron oxidations, all of which occur at the conjugated macrocycle. The reduction of (OEC)SnCl involves an overall two electrons, with the product being spectroscopically identified as a Sn(II) corrole after bulk electrolysis of the starting compound. (OEC)Sn(C(6)H(5)) is reversibly reduced by a single electron to give a Sn(IV) corrole pi-anion radical. The electrochemically measured HOMO-LUMO gap (defined as the absolute potential difference between the first-ring centered reduction and first ring-centered oxidation) is equal to 2.25 V in benzonitrile, a value which closely approximates what is observed for porphyrins containing octaethylporphyrin (OEP) or tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) macrocycles. An X-ray crystallographic analysis for the molecular structure of (OEC)Sn(C(6)H(5)) is also presented: monoclinic, P2(1)/n, with a = 13.235(4) Å, b = 14.502(4) Å, c = 18.387(5) Å, beta = 95.45(2) degrees, Z = 4, R = 0.0619.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemistry of sigma-Bonded Cobalt Corroles in High Oxidation States.

The synthesis, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and structural characterization of two high-valent phenyl sigma-bonded cobalt corroles containing a central cobalt ion in formal +IV and +V oxidation states is presented. The characterized compounds are represented as phenyl sigma-bonded cobalt corroles, (OEC)Co(C(6)H(5)) and [(OEC)Co(C(6)H(5))]ClO(4), where OEC is the trianion of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylcorrole. The electronic distribution in both molecules is discussed in terms of their NMR and EPR spectroscopic data, magnetic susceptibility, and electrochemistry.

Electrochemical and Spectral Characterization of Iron Corroles in High and Low Oxidation States: First Structural Characterization of an Iron(IV) Tetrapyrrole pi Cation Radical.

The electrochemistry and spectroscopic properties of three iron corroles were examined in benzonitrile, dichloromethane, and pyridine containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate or tetra-n-ethylammonium hexafluorophosphate as supporting electrolyte. The investigated compounds are represented as (OEC)Fe(IV)(C(6)H(5)), (OEC)Fe(IV)Cl, and (OEC)Fe(III)(py), where OEC is the trianion of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylcorrole. Each iron(IV) corrole undergoes two one-electron reductions and two or three one-electron oxidations depending upon the solvent. Under the same solution conditions, the iron(III) corrole undergoes a single one-electron reduction and one or two one-electron oxidations. Each singly oxidized and singly reduced product was characterized by UV-vis and/or EPR spectroscopy. The data indicate a conversion of (OEC)Fe(IV)(C(6)H(5)) and (OEC)Fe(IV)Cl to their iron(III) forms upon a one-electron reduction and to iron(IV) corrole pi cation radicals upon a one-electron oxidation. The metal center in [(OEC)Fe(III)(C(6)H(5))](-) is low spin (S = (1)/(2)) as compared to electrogenerated [(OEC)Fe(III)Cl](-), which contains an intermediate-spin (S = (3)/(2)) iron(III). (OEC)Fe(III)(py) also contains an intermediate-spin-state iron(III) and, unlike previously characterized (OEC)Fe(III)(NO), is converted to an iron(IV) corrole upon oxidation rather than to an iron(III) pi cation radical. Singly oxidized [(OEC)Fe(IV)(C(6)H(5))](*)(+) is the first iron(IV) tetrapyrrole pi cation radical to be isolated and was structurally characterized as a perchlorate salt. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P&onemacr; with a = 10.783(3) Å, b = 13.826(3) Å, c = 14.151(3) Å, alpha = 78.95(2) degrees, beta = 89.59(2) degrees, and gamma = 72.98(2) degrees at 293 K with Z = 2. Refinement of 8400 reflections and 670 parameters against F(o)(2) yields R1 = 0.0864 and wR2 = 0.2293. The complex contains a five-coordinated iron with average Fe-N bond lengths of 1.871(3) Å. The formulation of the electron distribution in this compound was confirmed by Mössbauer, X-ray crystallographic, and magnetic susceptibility data as well as by EPR spectroscopy, which gives evidence for strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the iron(IV) center and the singly oxidized corrole macrocycle.

Electrochemical and Spectral Characterization of Iron Corroles in High and Low Oxidation States: First Structural Characterization of an Iron(IV) Tetrapyrrole π Cation Radical.

The electrochemistry and spectroscopic properties of three iron corroles were examined in benzonitrile, dichloromethane, and pyridine containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate or tetra-n-ethylammonium hexafluorophosphate as supporting electrolyte. The investigated compounds are represented as (OEC)FeIV(C6H5), (OEC)FeIVCl, and (OEC)FeIII(py), where OEC is the trianion of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylcorrole. Each iron(IV) corrole undergoes two one-electron reductions and two or three one-electron oxidations depending upon the solvent. Under the same solution conditions, the iron(III) corrole undergoes a single one-electron reduction and one or two one-electron oxidations. Each singly oxidized and singly reduced product was characterized by UV-vis and/or EPR spectroscopy. The data indicate a conversion of (OEC)FeIV(C6H5) and (OEC)FeIVCl to their iron(III) forms upon a one-electron reduction and to iron(IV) corrole π cation radicals upon a one-electron oxidation. The metal center in [(OEC)FeIII(C6H5)]- is low spin (S = 1/2) as compared to electrogenerated [(OEC)FeIIICl]-, which contains an intermediate-spin (S = 3/2) iron(III). (OEC)FeIII(py) also contains an intermediate-spin-state iron(III) and, unlike previously characterized (OEC)FeIII(NO), is converted to an iron(IV) corrole upon oxidation rather than to an iron(III) π cation radical. Singly oxidized [(OEC)FeIV(C6H5)]•+ is the first iron(IV) tetrapyrrole π cation radical to be isolated and was structurally characterized as a perchlorate salt. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1̄ with a = 10.783(3) Å, b = 13.826(3) Å, c = 14.151(3) Å, α = 78.95(2)°, ß = 89.59(2)°, and γ = 72.98(2)° at 293 K with Z = 2. Refinement of 8400 reflections and 670 parameters against F o2 yields R1 = 0.0864 and wR2 = 0.2293. The complex contains a five-coordinated iron with average Fe-N bond lengths of 1.871(3) Å. The formulation of the electron distribution in this compound was confirmed by Mössbauer, X-ray crystallographic, and magnetic susceptibility data as well as by EPR spectroscopy, which gives evidence for strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the iron(IV) center and the singly oxidized corrole macrocycle.