Effects of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination on HIV viremia and reservoir size.

OBJECTIVE: The immunogenic nature of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines led to some initial concern that these could stimulate the HIV reservoir. We analyzed changes in plasma HIV loads (pVL) and reservoir size following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in 62 people with HIV (PWH) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and analyzed province-wide trends in pVL before and after the mass vaccination campaign. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational cohort and province-wide analysis. METHODS: 62 participants were sampled pre-vaccination, and one month after their first and second COVID-19 immunizations. Vaccine-induced anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike antibodies in serum were measured using the Roche Elecsys Anti-S assay. HIV reservoirs were quantified using the Intact Proviral DNA Assay; pVL were measured using the cobas 6800 (LLOQ:20 copies/mL). The province-wide analysis included all 290,401 pVL performed in British Columbia, Canada between 2012-2022. RESULTS: Pre-vaccination, the median intact reservoir size was 77 (IQR:20-204) HIV copies/million CD4+ T-cells, compared to 74 (IQR:27-212) and 65 (IQR:22-174) post-first and -second dose, respectively (all comparisons p>0.07). Pre-vaccination, 82% of participants had pVL<20 copies/mL (max:110 copies/mL), compared to 79% post-first dose (max:183 copies/mL) and 85% post-second dose (max:79 copies/mL) (p > 0.4). There was no evidence that the magnitude of the vaccine-elicited anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike immune response influenced pVL nor changes in reservoir size (p > 0.6). We found no evidence linking the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign to population-level increases in detectable pVL frequency among all PWH in the province, nor among those who maintained pVL suppression on ART. CONCLUSION: We found no evidence that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines induced changes in HIV reservoir size nor plasma viremia.

Effects of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination on HIV viremia and reservoir size.

Objective: The immunogenic nature of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines led to some initial concern that these could stimulate the HIV reservoir. We analyzed changes in plasma HIV loads (pVL) and reservoir size following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in 62 people with HIV (PWH) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and analyzed province-wide trends in pVL before and after the mass vaccination campaign. Design: Longitudinal observational cohort and province-wide analysis. Methods: 62 participants were sampled pre-vaccination, and one month after their first and second COVID-19 immunizations. Vaccine-induced anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike antibodies in serum were measured using the Roche Elecsys Anti-S assay. HIV reservoirs were quantified using the Intact Proviral DNA Assay; pVL were measured using the cobas 6800 (LLOQ:20 copies/mL). The province-wide analysis included all 290,401 pVL performed in British Columbia, Canada between 2012-2022. Results: Pre-vaccination, the median intact reservoir size was 77 (IQR:20-204) HIV copies/million CD4+ T-cells, compared to 74 (IQR:27-212) and 65 (IQR:22-174) post-first and -second dose, respectively (all comparisons p>0.07). Pre-vaccination, 82% of participants had pVL<20 copies/mL (max:110 copies/mL), compared to 79% post-first dose (max:183 copies/mL) and 85% post-second dose (max:79 copies/mL) (p>0.4). The magnitude of the vaccine-elicited anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike antibody response did not correlate with changes in reservoir size nor detectable pVL frequency (p>0.6). We found no evidence linking the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign to population-level increases in detectable pVL frequency among all PWH in the province, nor among those who maintained pVL suppression on ART. Conclusion: We found no evidence that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines induced changes in HIV reservoir size nor plasma viremia.

People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Receiving Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy Show Typical Antibody Durability After Dual Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination and Strong Third Dose Responses.

BACKGROUND: Longer-term humoral responses to 2-dose coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines remain incompletely characterized in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH), as do initial responses to a third dose. METHODS: We measured antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein receptor-binding domain, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) displacement, and viral neutralization against wild-type and Omicron strains up to 6 months after 2-dose vaccination, and 1 month after the third dose, in 99 PLWH receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy and 152 controls. RESULTS: Although humoral responses naturally decline after 2-dose vaccination, we found no evidence of lower antibody concentrations or faster rates of antibody decline in PLWH compared with controls after accounting for sociodemographic, health, and vaccine-related factors. We also found no evidence of poorer viral neutralization in PLWH after 2 doses, nor evidence that a low nadir CD4+ T-cell count compromised responses. Post-third-dose humoral responses substantially exceeded post-second-dose levels, though Omicron-specific responses were consistently weaker than responses against wild-type virus. Nevertheless, post-third-dose responses in PLWH were comparable to or higher than controls. An mRNA-1273 third dose was the strongest consistent correlate of higher post-third-dose responses. CONCLUSION: PLWH receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy mount strong antibody responses after 2- and 3-dose COVID-19 vaccination. Results underscore the immune benefits of third doses in light of Omicron.

Antibody response durability following three-dose coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination in people with HIV receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist regarding longer term antibody responses following three-dose coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, and the impact of a first SARS-CoV-2 infection during this time, in people with HIV (PWH) receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). We quantified wild-type-specific, Omicron BA.1-specific and Omicron BA.5-specific responses up to 6 months post-third dose in 64 PWH and 117 controls who remained COVID-19-naive or experienced their first SARS-CoV-2 infection during this time. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational cohort. METHODS: We quantified wild-type-specific and Omicron-specific anti-Spike receptor-binding domain IgG concentrations, ACE2 displacement activities and live virus neutralization at 1, 3 and 6 months post-third vaccine dose. RESULTS: Third doses boosted all antibody measures above two-dose levels, but BA.1-specific responses remained significantly lower than wild-type-specific ones, with BA.5-specific responses lower still. Serum IgG concentrations declined at similar rates in COVID-19-naive PWH and controls post-third dose (median wild-type-specific and BA.1-specific half-lives were between 66 and 74 days for both groups). Antibody function also declined significantly yet comparably between groups: 6 months post-third dose, BA.1-specific neutralization was undetectable in more than 80% of COVID-19 naive PWH and more than 90% of controls. Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection boosted antibody concentrations and function significantly above vaccine-induced levels in both PWH and controls, though BA.5-specific neutralization remained significantly poorer than BA.1 even post-breakthrough. CONCLUSION: Following three-dose COVID-19 vaccination, antibody response durability in PWH receiving ART is comparable with controls. PWH also mounted strong responses to breakthrough infection. Due to temporal response declines, however, COVID-19-naive individuals, regardless of HIV status, would benefit from a fourth dose within 6 months of their third.

SARS CoV-2 mRNA vaccination exposes latent HIV to Nef-specific CD8+ T-cells.

Efforts to cure HIV have focused on reactivating latent proviruses to enable elimination by CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells. Clinical studies of latency reversing agents (LRA) in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated individuals have shown increases in HIV transcription, but without reductions in virologic measures, or evidence that HIV-specific CD8+ T-cells were productively engaged. Here, we show that the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 activates the RIG-I/TLR - TNF - NFκb axis, resulting in transcription of HIV proviruses with minimal perturbations of T-cell activation and host transcription. T-cells specific for the early gene-product HIV-Nef uniquely increased in frequency and acquired effector function (granzyme-B) in ART-treated individuals following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. These parameters of CD8+ T-cell induction correlated with significant decreases in cell-associated HIV mRNA, suggesting killing or suppression of cells transcribing HIV. Thus, we report the observation of an intervention-induced reduction in a measure of HIV persistence, accompanied by precise immune correlates, in ART-suppressed individuals. However, we did not observe significant depletions of intact proviruses, underscoring challenges to achieving (or measuring) HIV reservoir reductions. Overall, our results support prioritizing the measurement of granzyme-B-producing Nef-specific responses in latency reversal studies and add impetus to developing HIV-targeted mRNA therapeutic vaccines that leverage built-in LRA activity.

A Novel Adult Murine Model of Typical Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli Infection Reveals Microbiota Dysbiosis, Mucus Secretion, and AAF/II-Mediated Expression and Localization of ß-Catenin and Expression of MUC1 in Ileum.

Typical enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (tEAEC) is a diarrheagenic E. coli pathotype associated with pediatric and traveler's diarrhea. Even without diarrhea, EAEC infections in children also lead to increased gut inflammation and growth shortfalls. EAEC strain's defining phenotype is the aggregative adherence pattern on epithelial cells attributable to the aggregative adherence fimbriae (AAF). EAEC only causes diarrhea in humans; therefore, not much is known of the exact intestinal region of infection and damage or its interactions with intestinal enterocytes in vivo and in situ. This study aimed to develop a new tEAEC mouse model of infection, characterize the microbiota of infected mice, and evaluate in situ the expression of host adherence and surface molecules triggering EAEC infection and the role of the EAEC AAF-II in adherence. Six-week-old C57BL/6 mice, without previous antibiotic treatment, were orally challenged with EAEC 042 strain or EAEC 042 AAF-II mutant (ΔAAF/II) strain, or DAEC-MXR strain (diffusely adherent E. coli clinical isolate), and with saline solution (control group). Paraffin sections of the colon and ileum were stained with H&E and periodic acid-Schiff. ZO-1, ß-catenin, MUC1, and bacteria were analyzed by immunofluorescence. EAEC-infected mice, in comparison with DAEC-MXR-infected and control mice, significantly lost weight during the first 3 days. After 7 days post-infection, mucus production was increased in the colon and ileum, ZO-1 localization remained unaltered, and morphological alterations were more pronounced in the ileum since increased expression and apical localization of ß-catenin in ileal enterocytes were observed. EAEC-infected mice developed dysbiosis 21 days post-infection. At 4 days post-infection, EAEC strain 042 formed a biofilm on ileal villi and increased the expression and apical localization of ß-catenin in ileal enterocytes; these effects were not seen in animals infected with the 042 ΔAAF/II strain. At 3 days post-infection, MUC1 expression on ileal enterocytes was mainly detectable among infected mice and colocalized with 042 strains on the enterocyte surface. We developed a novel mouse model of EAEC infection, which mimics human infection, not an illness, revealing that EAEC 042 exerts its pathogenic effects in the mouse ileum and causes dysbiosis. This model is a unique tool to unveil early molecular mechanisms of EAEC infection in vivo and in situ.

People with HIV receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy show typical antibody durability after dual COVID-19 vaccination, and strong third dose responses.

Background: Longer-term humoral responses to two-dose COVID-19 vaccines remain incompletely characterized in people living with HIV (PLWH), as do initial responses to a third dose. Methods: We measured antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain, ACE2 displacement and viral neutralization against wild-type and Omicron strains up to six months following two-dose vaccination, and one month following the third dose, in 99 PLWH receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy, and 152 controls. Results: Though humoral responses naturally decline following two-dose vaccination, we found no evidence of lower antibody concentrations nor faster rates of antibody decline in PLWH compared to controls after accounting for sociodemographic, health and vaccine-related factors. We also found no evidence of poorer viral neutralization in PLWH after two doses, nor evidence that a low nadir CD4+ T-cell count compromised responses. Post-third-dose humoral responses substantially exceeded post-second-dose levels, though anti-Omicron responses were consistently weaker than against wild-type.Nevertheless, post-third-dose responses in PLWH were comparable to or higher than controls. An mRNA-1273 third dose was the strongest consistent correlate of higher post-third-dose responses. Conclusion: PLWH receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy mount strong antibody responses after two- and three-dose COVID-19 vaccination. Results underscore the immune benefits of third doses in light of Omicron.

Humoral immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in people living with HIV receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy.

Humoral responses to COVID-19 vaccines in people living with HIV (PLWH) remain incompletely characterized. We measured circulating antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD), ACE2 displacement and viral neutralization activities one month following the first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses, and again 3 months following the second dose, in 100 adult PLWH and 152 controls. All PLWH were receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy, with median CD4+ T-cell counts of 710 (IQR 525-935) cells/mm3, though nadir CD4+ T-cell counts ranged as low as <10 cells/mm3. After adjustment for sociodemographic, health and vaccine-related variables, HIV infection was associated with lower anti-RBD antibody concentrations and ACE2 displacement activity after one vaccine dose. Following two doses however, HIV was not significantly associated with the magnitude of any humoral response after multivariable adjustment. Rather, older age, a higher burden of chronic health conditions, and dual ChAdOx1 vaccination were associated with lower responses after two vaccine doses. No significant correlation was observed between recent or nadir CD4+ T-cell counts and responses to two vaccine doses in PLWH. These results indicate that PLWH with well-controlled viral loads and CD4+ T-cell counts in a healthy range generally mount strong initial humoral responses to dual COVID-19 vaccination. Factors including age, co-morbidities, vaccine brand, response durability and the rise of new SARS-CoV-2 variants will influence when PLWH will benefit from additional doses. Further studies of PLWH who are not receiving antiretroviral treatment or who have low CD4+ T-cell counts are needed, as are longer-term assessments of response durability.

Humoral immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in people living with HIV receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy.

Humoral responses to COVID-19 vaccines in people living with HIV (PLWH) remain incompletely understood. We measured circulating antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, ACE2 displacement and live viral neutralization activities one month following the first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses in 100 adult PLWH and 152 controls. All PLWH were receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy, with median CD4+ T-cell counts of 710 (IQR 525-935) cells/mm 3 . Nadir CD4+ T-cell counts ranged as low as <10 (median 280; IQR 120-490) cells/mm 3 . After adjustment for sociodemographic, health and vaccine-related variables, HIV infection was significantly associated with 0.2 log 10 lower anti-RBD antibody concentrations (p=0.03) and ∻11% lower ACE2 displacement activity (p=0.02), but not lower viral neutralization (p=0.1) after one vaccine dose. Following two doses however, HIV was no longer significantly associated with the magnitude of any response measured. Rather, older age, a higher burden of chronic health conditions, and having received two ChAdOx1 doses (versus a heterologous or dual mRNA vaccine regimen) were independently associated with lower responses. After two vaccine doses, no significant correlation was observed between the most recent or nadir CD4+ T-cell counts and vaccine responses in PLWH. These results suggest that PLWH with well-controlled viral loads on antiretroviral therapy and CD4+ T-cell counts in a healthy range will generally not require a third COVID-19 vaccine dose as part of their initial immunization series, though other factors such as older age, co-morbidities, vaccine regimen type, and durability of vaccine responses will influence when this group may benefit from additional doses. Further studies of PLWH who are not receiving antiretroviral treatment and/or who have low CD4+ T-cell counts are needed.

New Insights Into DAEC and EAEC Pathogenesis and Phylogeny.

Diarrheagenic E. coli can be separated into six distinct pathotypes, with enteroaggregative (EAEC) and diffusely-adherent E. coli (DAEC) among the least characterized. To gain additional insights into these two pathotypes we performed whole genome sequencing of ten DAEC, nine EAEC strains, isolated from Mexican children with diarrhea, and one EAEC plus one commensal E. coli strains isolated from an adult with diarrhea and a healthy child, respectively. These genome sequences were compared to 85 E. coli genomes available in public databases. The EAEC and DAEC strains segregated into multiple different clades; however, six clades were heavily or exclusively comprised of EAEC and DAEC strains, suggesting a phylogenetic relationship between these two pathotypes. EAEC strains harbored the typical virulence factors under control of the activator AggR, but also several toxins, bacteriocins, and other virulence factors. DAEC strains harbored several iron-scavenging systems, toxins, adhesins, and complement resistance or Immune system evasion factors that suggest a pathogenic paradigm for this poorly understood pathotype. Several virulence factors for both EAEC and DAEC were associated with clinical presentations, not only suggesting the importance of these factors, but also potentially indicating opportunities for intervention. Our studies provide new insights into two distinct but related diarrheagenic organisms.

Escherichia coli enterotoxigénica y enteroagregativa: prevalencia, patogénesis y modelos múridos.

Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) and enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) pathotypes are important etiological agents causative of diarrhea in children younger than 5 years of age in Mexico and in developing countries, where they cause numerous deaths. Both have been associated with delayed growth in children and are the main causative agents of traveler's diarrhea. The pathogenesis of both bacteria starts by adhering to the intestinal epithelium by means of fimbriae, called colonization factors in human ETEC isolates and aggregative adherence fimbriae in EAEC isolates. Once ETEC adheres to the enterocyte, it produces one or both of its toxins and induces the secretion of chloride and sodium ions and water into the intestinal lumen, producing its characteristic watery diarrhea. EAEC binds to the intestinal epithelium forming a biofilm, induces the production of mucus, releases its toxins and promotes inflammation. EAEC and ETEC infection models with wild-type C57BL/6 and CD40 ligand-deficient mice (with intact microbiota), respectively, revealed that undernutrition and low-zinc diet increases EAEC infection, causing growth retardation, and that ETEC colonizes, persists and induces local and systemic humoral immune response.

Los patotipos de Escherichia coli enterotoxigénica (ETEC) y enteroagregativa (EAEC) son importantes agentes etiológicos causantes de diarrea en niños menores de cinco años de México y países en desarrollo, en quienes causan numerosas muertes. Ambos se han asociado con retraso en el crecimiento infantil y son los principales agentes causales de la "diarrea del viajero". La patogénesis de ambas bacterias se inicia cuando estas se adhieren al epitelio intestinal mediante fimbrias, denominadas factores de colonización en las cepas ETEC aisladas de humano y fimbrias de adherencia agregativa en las cepas de EAEC. Una vez que ETEC se adhiere al enterocito produce una o ambas de sus toxinas e induce la secreción de iones de cloruro, sodio y agua al lumen intestinal, produciendo su característica diarrea acusa. EAEC se une al epitelio intestinal formando una biopelícula, induce la producción de moco, libera sus toxinas y promueve inflamación. Modelos de infección de EAEC y ETEC con ratones C57BL/6 silvestres y deficientes del ligando de CD40 (con microbiotas intactas), respectivamente, revelaron que la desnutrición y la dieta baja en cinc incrementan la infección de EAEC causando retraso en el crecimiento y que ETEC coloniza, persiste e induce respuesta inmune humoral local y sistémica.

Escherichia coli enterotoxigénica y enteroagregativa: prevalencia, patogénesis y modelos múridos / Enterotoxigenic and enteroaggregative Escherichia coli: prevalence, pathogenesis and murine models

Resumen Los patotipos de Escherichia coli enterotoxigénica (ETEC) y enteroagregativa (EAEC) son importantes agentes etiológicos causantes de diarrea en niños menores de cinco años de México y países en desarrollo, en quienes causan numerosas muertes. Ambos se han asociado con retraso en el crecimiento infantil y son los principales agentes causales de la "diarrea del viajero". La patogénesis de ambas bacterias se inicia cuando estas se adhieren al epitelio intestinal mediante fimbrias, denominadas factores de colonización en las cepas ETEC aisladas de humano y fimbrias de adherencia agregativa en las cepas de EAEC. Una vez que ETEC se adhiere al enterocito produce una o ambas de sus toxinas e induce la secreción de iones de cloruro, sodio y agua al lumen intestinal, produciendo su característica diarrea acusa. EAEC se une al epitelio intestinal formando una biopelícula, induce la producción de moco, libera sus toxinas y promueve inflamación. Modelos de infección de EAEC y ETEC con ratones C57BL/6 silvestres y deficientes del ligando de CD40 (con microbiotas intactas), respectivamente, revelaron que la desnutrición y la dieta baja en cinc incrementan la infección de EAEC causando retraso en el crecimiento y que ETEC coloniza, persiste e induce respuesta inmune humoral local y sistémica.

Abstract Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) and enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) pathotypes are important etiological agents causative of diarrhea in children younger than 5 years of age in Mexico and in developing countries, where they cause numerous deaths. Both have been associated with delayed growth in children and are the main causative agents of traveler's diarrhea. The pathogenesis of both bacteria starts by adhering to the intestinal epithelium by means of fimbriae, called colonization factors in human ETEC isolates and aggregative adherence fimbriae in EAEC isolates. Once ETEC adheres to the enterocyte, it produces one or both of its toxins and induces the secretion of chloride and sodium ions and water into the intestinal lumen, producing its characteristic watery diarrhea. EAEC binds to the intestinal epithelium forming a biofilm, induces the production of mucus, releases its toxins and promotes inflammation. EAEC and ETEC infection models with wild-type C57BL/6 and CD40 ligand-deficient mice (with intact microbiota), respectively, revealed that undernutrition and low-zinc diet increases EAEC infection, causing growth retardation, and that ETEC colonizes, persists and induces local and systemic humoral immune response.