Homologous equivalence study of immunogenicity after third dose of Covid-19 vaccine (recombinant) with an interval of six months after the second dose, comparing the interval of eight and 12 weeks between the first two doses.

BACKGROUND: In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Brazil authorised the Astra Zeneca/Fiocruz vaccine in January 2021. As the Delta variant emerged in May 2021, interval between vaccine doses was adjusted. By September 2021, the Brazilian National Immunisation Program recommended a booster dose for individuals over 70, and later expanded the recommendation to all adults. OBJECTIVES: Assess the equivalence of IgG antibody response against the Covid-19 S protein before and approximately 28 days after the third dose of a Covid-19 recombinant vaccine. Two groups received initial two doses with intervals of eight and 12 weeks. METHODS: This is a phase IV clinical study, uncontrolled, non-randomised. The study proposes calculating the ratio of geometric means titres (GMT) 28 days after the third dose, with a target ratio of confidence interval (CI) between 0.77 and 1.3. FINDINGS: In the primary endpoint, there was no equivalence between the eight- and 12-week intervals with a slight variation favouring the eight-week group. Post-third dose, both groups showed increases titres at 28 days, three months, six months and 12 months. Both groups responded similarly to Delta and Omicron BA.1, with a more significant increase for Delta. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: The study showed strong and consistent immune response in all age groups receiving the Covid-19 recombinant vaccine. Third dose elicited an increase in GMT by at least three times aligned with Ministry of Health strategies emphasising Bio-Manguinhos crucial role in pandemic control in the country.

Duration of post-vaccination immunity to yellow fever in volunteers ten years after a dose-response study - A complementary study.

A single dose of standard yellow fever (YF) vaccine is considered to provide life-long protection. In this study, we evaluate the seropositivity conferred by lower doses 10 years post-vaccination. In 2009, Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz performed a dose-response study with the 17DD yellow fever vaccine, administering the vaccine in the usual mean dose of 27.476 IU and in decreasing doses (10.447 IU, 3.013 IU, 587 IU, 158 IU and 31 IU), with the usual volume and route (0,5 ml subcutaneous). The decreasing doses were obtained by dilution in the laboratory of the manufacturer and the lots in test had standard quality control and were produced by good manufacturing practices (GMP). Around 30 days after the vaccination, doses down to 587 IU had similar immunogenicity and the 158 IU and 31 IU were inferior to the full dose. The seropositivity was maintained for 10 months, except on the 31 IU group. Eight years after, 85 % of 318 participants evaluated in a follow-up, maintained seropositivity that was similar across groups. Consistently, antibody titers in the reduced-dose groups were also comparable to those of the full-dose group. The current study, 10 years later, showed similarity between the vaccine groups (six arms who received the YF vaccine in decreasing doses: 27.476 IU, 10.447 IU, 3.013 IU, 587 IU, 158 IU, 31 IU) both in relation of seropositivity and in the evaluation of the geometric mean titers. The seropositivity rates across subgroups were 83,1%, 90 %, 87 %, 93 %, 83,8% and 85 %, correspondingly. These findings provides further support to the long-term immunogenicity of lower doses. Clinical trial registry: NCT04416477.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia post COVID-19 booster vaccination in Brazil: a case series.

Background: The emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 has led to the administration of different booster vaccines to mitigate COVID-19. Vaccines with adenoviral vectors have been rarely associated with vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Objectives: This study aimed to describe 15 cases of VITT after the third and fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Brazil. Methods: Cases were reported after all kinds of anti-SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccinations between October 17, 2021, and September 4, 2022. Results: Of the 26 suspected cases, 15 cases of VITT were analyzed. Of these, 10 were classified as definite VITT, 2 as probable, 1 as possible, and 2 as unlikely. The estimated frequency of definite, probable, or possible VITT was 0.33 cases per million. Cases were assigned to ChAdOx1 (13 cases), Ad26.COV2.S (1 case), and BNT162b2 (1 case). None of the patients received an adenoviral vaccine as a primary vaccination. The average age of participants was 34 years, and symptoms usually appeared 8 days after vaccination. Headache was the most common symptom, and cerebral veins were the most affected thrombotic site. The overall mortality risk was 53%. Anti-platelet factor 4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay serology was positive in 11 out of 15 patients (73.3%), negative in 2 (13.3%), and missing in 2 (13.3%). Conclusion: The study confirms that VITT is linked to the first exposure to adenoviral vector vaccines. Since January 2023, Brazil has recommended preferably COVID-19 messenger RNA vaccines for individuals aged 18 to 39 years. We suggest that, in the current disease scenario, COVID-19 adenovirus vaccines should not be the first choice for individuals aged <50 years who have not received a previous dose of this type of vaccine.

Interferon-lambda 3 and 4 Polymorphisms Increase Sustained Virological Responses and Regulate Innate Immunity in Antiviral Therapy With Pegylated Interferon-Alpha.

Sustained virologic response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment denotes that the host genetics controls the immune response and unequivocally contribute to viral clearance or disease severity. In this context, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the locus of interferon lambda 3 and 4 genes (IFNL3/4) have been important genetic markers of responsiveness to CHC as prognostic markers for the pegylated-Interferon-alpha/ribavirin (Peg-IFN-α/RBV). Here, we analyzed 12 SNPs at the IFNL3/4 region in 740 treatment-naïve patients with CHC infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1, 2, or 3 treated with Peg-IFN-α/RBV. Individually, rs12979860-CC, rs8109886-CC, or rs8099917-TT were predictive markers of SVR, while rs12979860-CC demonstrated the stronger effect. Besides, the genotypic combination of these three predictors' genotypes, CC/CC/TT, increased the rate of SVR. Serum levels of cytokines and gene expression analysis on the genes IFNL3, IFNL4, IFNA1, and some of the IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) were measured in a subgroup of 24 treated patients and 24 healthy volunteers. An antagonist effect was highlighted between the expression of IFNL3/4 and IFNA1 mRNA among patients. Besides, a prominent production of the pro-inflammatory chemokines CCL4 and CXCL10 was observed at a 12-week treatment follow-up. Lower serum levels of these chemokines were detected in patients with an rs12979860-CC genotype associated with the better treatment outcome. Also, lower expression levels of the IFI6, IFI16, IRF9 genes were observed among rs12979860-CC individuals. In conclusion, a combination of the genotypes at the IFNL3/4 locus can act as a better marker for the prognosis for virological responses in an admixed Brazilian population presenting the modulating effect over innate immunity and inflammation that are controlling the outcome of the viral infection, but also other infectious diseases. This study is registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov platform (accession number NCT01889849 and NCT01623336).

Duration of Humoral and Cellular Immunity 8 Years After Administration of Reduced Doses of the 17DD-Yellow Fever Vaccine.

The present study aims to determine whether 17DD-YF-specific humoral and cellular immunological memory is maintained 8-years after primary vaccination with subdoses (10,447IU;3,013IU;587IU;158IU;31IU). For this purpose, this follow-up study was carried out in a subset of volunteers (n = 98) originally enrolled in the dose-response study in 2009 and 46 non-vaccinated controls. Our results demonstrated that vaccinees, who had seroconverted following primary vaccination and had not been revaccinated, present similar neutralizing antibodies levels and YF-specific cellular memory, particularly CMCD4 and EMCD8 as compared to the reference full dose (27,476IU). Although, PRNT seropositivity rates were similar across subgroups (94, 82, 83, 94, 80, and 91%, correspondingly), only doses above 587IU elicited similar iterative proportion of seropositivity rates, calculated as a progressive decrease on seropositivity rates along time (89, 80, 80, and 91%, respectively) as compared to 158IU and 31IU (68 and 46%, respectively). Noteworthy were the strong positive correlations ("EMCD4,EMCD8" and "TNFCD8,IFNCD8") observed in most subdoses, except for 31IU. Major similarities underscored the preserved antibody titers and the outstanding levels of EMCD8, relevant correlates of protection for YF-specific immunity. These findings provide evidences to support the regular use of dose sparing strategy for YF vaccine in adults.

Corrigendum: Duration of Humoral and Cellular Immunity 8 Years After Administration of Reduced Doses of the 17DD-Yellow Fever Vaccine.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01211.].

Duration of post-vaccination immunity to yellow fever in volunteers eight years after a dose-response study.

In 2009, Bio-Manguinhos conducted a dose-response study with the yellow fever vaccine, administering the vaccine in the usual mean dose of 27,476 IU (full dose, reference) and in tapered doses (10,447 IU, 3013 IU, 587 IU, 158 IU, and 31 IU) by the usual subcutaneous route and usual volume (0.5 mL). Tapered doses were obtained by dilution in the manufacturer's laboratory, and the test batches presented industrial quality. Doses down to 587 IU showed similar immunogenicity to the full dose (27,476, reference), while the 158 IU and 31 IU doses displayed lower immunogenicity. Seropositivity was maintained at 10 months, except in the group that received the 31 IU dose. The current study aims to determine whether yellow fever seropositivity was maintained eight years after YF vaccination in non-revaccinated individuals. According to the current study's results, seropositivity was maintained in 85% of 318 participants and was similar across groups. The findings support the use of the yellow fever vaccine in fractional doses during outbreaks, but each fractional dose should have at least 587 IU. This study also supports the minimum dose required by WHO, 1000 IU. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT 03338231.