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1.
J Exp Med ; 221(7)2024 Jul 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38722309

SYNTAXIN-11 (STX11) is a SNARE protein that mediates the fusion of cytotoxic granules with the plasma membrane at the immunological synapses of CD8 T or NK cells. Autosomal recessive inheritance of deleterious STX11 variants impairs cytotoxic granule exocytosis, causing familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 4 (FHL-4). In several FHL-4 patients, we also observed hypogammaglobulinemia, elevated frequencies of naive B cells, and increased double-negative DN2:DN1 B cell ratios, indicating a hitherto unrecognized role of STX11 in humoral immunity. Detailed analysis of Stx11-deficient mice revealed impaired CD4 T cell help for B cells, associated with disrupted germinal center formation, reduced isotype class switching, and low antibody avidity. Mechanistically, Stx11-/- CD4 T cells exhibit impaired membrane fusion leading to reduced CD107a and CD40L surface mobilization and diminished IL-2 and IL-10 secretion. Our findings highlight a critical role of STX11 in SNARE-mediated membrane trafficking and vesicle exocytosis in CD4 T cells, important for successful CD4 T cell-B cell interactions. Deficiency in STX11 impairs CD4 T cell-dependent B cell differentiation and humoral responses.


B-Lymphocytes , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes , Qa-SNARE Proteins , Animals , Qa-SNARE Proteins/metabolism , Qa-SNARE Proteins/genetics , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Mice , Humans , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic/immunology , Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic/genetics , Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic/metabolism , Mice, Knockout , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Female , Male , Germinal Center/immunology , Germinal Center/metabolism , Immunity, Humoral , Exocytosis
2.
Hum Vaccin Immunother ; 20(1): 2346963, 2024 Dec 31.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38745461

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, and meningococcal disease, caused by Neisseria meningitidis, are relevant infectious diseases, preventable through vaccination. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), released from Gram-negative bacteria, such as N. meningitidis, present adjuvant characteristics and may confer protection against meningococcal disease. Here, we evaluated in mice the humoral and cellular immune response to different doses of receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 adjuvanted by N. meningitidis C:2a:P1.5 OMVs and aluminum hydroxide, as a combined preparation for these pathogens. The immunization induced IgG antibodies of high avidity for RBD and OMVs, besides IgG that recognized the Omicron BA.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 with intermediary avidity. Cellular immunity showed IFN-γ and IL-4 secretion in response to RBD and OMV stimuli, demonstrating immunologic memory and a mixed Th1/Th2 response. Offspring presented transferred IgG of similar levels and avidity as their mothers. Humoral immunity did not point to the superiority of any RBD dose, but the group immunized with a lower antigenic dose (0.5 µg) had the better cellular response. Overall, OMVs enhanced RBD immunogenicity and conferred an immune response directed to N. meningitidis too.


Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 , Immunoglobulin G , Neisseria meningitidis , SARS-CoV-2 , Animals , Mice , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Neisseria meningitidis/immunology , Female , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , Immunity, Cellular , Immunity, Humoral , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Meningococcal Infections/prevention & control , Meningococcal Infections/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Adjuvants, Vaccine/administration & dosage , Aluminum Hydroxide/administration & dosage , Aluminum Hydroxide/immunology , Immunization/methods , Antibody Affinity , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Antibodies, Bacterial/immunology , Meningococcal Vaccines/immunology , Meningococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage , Immunologic Memory , Th1 Cells/immunology
3.
Front Immunol ; 15: 1385135, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38756783

Background: The assessment of long-term humoral and cellular immunity post-vaccination is crucial for establishing an optimal vaccination strategy. Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated adults (≥18 years) who received a BA.4/5 bivalent vaccine. We measured the anti-receptor binding domain immunoglobulin G antibody and neutralizing antibodies (NAb) against wild-type and Omicron subvariants (BA.5, BQ.1.1, BN.1, XBB.1 and EG.5) up to 9 months post-vaccination. T-cell immune responses were measured before and 4 weeks after vaccination. Results: A total of 108 (28 SARS-CoV-2-naïve and 80 previously infected) participants were enrolled. Anti-receptor binding domain immunoglobulin G (U/mL) levels were higher at 9 months post-vaccination than baseline in SAR-CoV-2-naïve individuals (8,339 vs. 1,834, p<0.001). NAb titers against BQ.1.1, BN.1, and XBB.1 were significantly higher at 9 months post-vaccination than baseline in both groups, whereas NAb against EG.5 was negligible at all time points. The T-cell immune response (median spot forming unit/106 cells) was highly cross-reactive at both baseline (wild-type/BA.5/XBB.1.5, 38.3/52.5/45.0 in SARS-CoV-2-naïve individuals; 51.6/54.9/54.9 in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals) and 4 weeks post-vaccination, with insignificant boosting post-vaccination. Conclusion: Remarkable cross-reactive neutralization was observed against BQ.1.1, BN.1, and XBB.1 up to 9 months after BA.4/5 bivalent vaccination, but not against EG.5. The T-cell immune response was highly cross-reactive.


Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Immunity, Cellular , Immunity, Humoral , SARS-CoV-2 , Vaccination , Humans , Male , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Female , Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , Middle Aged , Adult , Prospective Studies , Aged , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology
4.
J Transl Med ; 22(1): 432, 2024 May 07.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38715088

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines are highly immunogenic in people living with HIV (PLWH) on effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, whether viro-immunologic parameters or other factors affect immune responses to vaccination is debated. This study aimed to develop a machine learning-based model able to predict the humoral response to mRNA vaccines in PLWH and to assess the impact of demographic and clinical variables on antibody production over time. METHODS: Different machine learning algorithms have been compared in the setting of a longitudinal observational study involving 497 PLWH, after primary and booster SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. Both Generalized Linear Models and non-linear Models (Tree Regression and Random Forest) were trained and tested. RESULTS: Non-linear algorithms showed better ability to predict vaccine-elicited humoral responses. The best-performing Random Forest model identified a few variables as more influential, within 39 clinical, demographic, and immunological factors. In particular, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, BMI, CD4 T-cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio were positively associated with the primary cycle immunogenicity, yet their predictive value diminished with the administration of booster doses. CONCLUSIONS: In the present work we have built a non-linear Random Forest model capable of accurately predicting humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, and identifying relevant factors that influence the vaccine response in PLWH. In clinical contexts, the application of this model provides promising opportunities for predicting individual vaccine responses, thus facilitating the development of vaccination strategies tailored for PLWH.


COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , HIV Infections , Immunity, Humoral , Immunization, Secondary , Machine Learning , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , Male , Female , HIV Infections/immunology , Middle Aged , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , Vaccination , Adult , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , mRNA Vaccines , Longitudinal Studies , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism
5.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(22): e2314619121, 2024 May 28.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38776375

Humoral immunity depends on the germinal center (GC) reaction where B cells are tightly controlled for class-switch recombination and somatic hypermutation and finally generated into plasma and memory B cells. However, how protein SUMOylation regulates the process of the GC reaction remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the expression of SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) is up-regulated in GC B cells. Selective ablation of SENP1 in GC B cells results in impaired GC dark and light zone organization and reduced IgG1-switched GC B cells, leading to diminished production of class-switched antibodies with high-affinity in response to a TD antigen challenge. Mechanistically, SENP1 directly binds to Paired box protein 5 (PAX5) to mediate PAX5 deSUMOylation, sustaining PAX5 protein stability to promote the transcription of activation-induced cytidine deaminase. In summary, our study uncovers SUMOylation as an important posttranslational mechanism regulating GC B cell response.


B-Lymphocytes , Cysteine Endopeptidases , Germinal Center , PAX5 Transcription Factor , Sumoylation , Germinal Center/immunology , Germinal Center/metabolism , PAX5 Transcription Factor/metabolism , PAX5 Transcription Factor/genetics , Animals , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Cysteine Endopeptidases/metabolism , Cysteine Endopeptidases/genetics , Mice , Immunoglobulin Class Switching , Humans , Cytidine Deaminase/metabolism , Cytidine Deaminase/genetics , Immunity, Humoral , Mice, Inbred C57BL
6.
Front Immunol ; 15: 1373656, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38742108

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is one of the most complex viruses. ASFV is a serious threat to the global swine industry because no commercial vaccines against this virus are currently available except in Vietnam. Moreover, ASFV is highly stable in the environment and can survive in water, feed, and aerosols for a long time. ASFV is transmitted through the digestive and respiratory tract. Mucosal immunity is the first line of defense against ASFV. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), which has been certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and has a generally recognized as safe status in the food industry, was used for oral immunization in this study. ASFV antigens were effectively expressed in recombinant SC strains with high DNA copy numbers and stable growth though surface display technology and chromosome engineering (δ-integration). The recombinant SC strains containing eight ASFV antigens-KP177R, E183L, E199L, CP204L, E248R, EP402R, B602L, and B646L- induced strong humoral and mucosal immune responses in mice. There was no antigenic competition, and these antigens induced Th1 and Th2 cellular immune responses. Therefore, the oral immunization strategy using recombinant SC strains containing multiple ASFV antigens demonstrate potential for future testing in swine, including challenge studies to evaluate its efficacy as a vaccine against ASFV.


African Swine Fever Virus , African Swine Fever , Antigens, Viral , Immunization , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Viral Vaccines , Animals , African Swine Fever Virus/immunology , African Swine Fever Virus/genetics , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/immunology , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics , Administration, Oral , Mice , Viral Vaccines/immunology , Viral Vaccines/administration & dosage , Antigens, Viral/immunology , African Swine Fever/immunology , African Swine Fever/prevention & control , Swine , Immunity, Mucosal , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Female , Immunity, Humoral
7.
Front Immunol ; 15: 1374486, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38745651

A universal recombinant adenovirus type-5 (Ad5) vaccine against COVID19 (Ad-US) was constructed, and immunogenicity and broad-spectrum of Ad5-US were evaluated with both intranasal and intramuscular immunization routes. The humoral immune response of Ad5-US in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus based pseudovirus neutralization assay, and angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) -binding inhibition assay. The cellular immune response and Th1/Th2 biased immune response of Ad5-US were evaluated by the IFN-γ ELISpot assay, intracellular cytokine staining, and Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) profiling of Th1/Th2 cytokines. Intramuscular priming followed by an intranasal booster with Ad5-US elicited the broad-spectrum and high levels of IgG, IgA, pseudovirus neutralizing antibody (PNAb), and Th1-skewing of the T-cell response. Overall, the adenovirus type-5 vectored universal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine Ad5-US was successfully constructed, and Ad5-US was highly immunogenic and broad spectrum. Intramuscular priming followed by an intranasal booster with Ad5-US induced the high and broad spectrum systemic immune responses and local mucosal immune responses.


Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Genetic Vectors , SARS-CoV-2 , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Animals , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood , Mice , Humans , Female , Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology , Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage , Adenoviridae/genetics , Adenoviridae/immunology , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Administration, Intranasal , Injections, Intramuscular , Immunity, Humoral , Cytokines/metabolism , Immunity, Cellular
8.
Swiss Med Wkly ; 154: 3732, 2024 May 06.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38749028

INTRODUCTION: With the emergence of newer SARS-CoV-2 variants and their substantial effects on the levels and duration of protection against infection, an understanding of these characteristics of the protection conferred by humoral and cellular immunity can aid in the proper development and implementation of vaccine and safety guidelines. METHODS: We conducted a rapid literature review and searched five electronic databases weekly from 1 November 2021 to 30 September 2022. Studies that assessed the humoral or cellular immunity conferred by infection, vaccination or a hybrid (combination of both) in adults and risk groups (immunocompromised and older populations) were identified. Studies were eligible when they reported data on immunological assays of COVID-19 (related to vaccination and/or infection) or the effectiveness of protection (related to the effectiveness of vaccination and/or infection). RESULTS: We screened 5103 studies and included 205 studies, of which 70 provided data on the duration of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. The duration of protection of adaptive immunity was greatly impacted by Omicron and its subvariants: levels of protection were low by 3-6 months from exposure to infection/vaccination. Although more durable, cellular immunity also showed signs of waning by 6 months. First and second mRNA vaccine booster doses increased the levels of protection against infection and severe disease from Omicron and its subvariants but continued to demonstrate a high degree of waning over time. CONCLUSION: All humoral immunities (infection-acquired, vaccine-acquired and hybrid) waned by 3-6 months. Cellular immunity was more durable but showed signs of waning by 6 months. Hybrid immunity had the highest magnitude of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Boosting may be recommended as early as 3-4 months after the last dose, especially in risk groups.


COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Immunity, Cellular , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , Immunity, Cellular/immunology , Immunity, Humoral/immunology , Immunization, Secondary , Vaccination
9.
Immunity ; 57(5): 927-929, 2024 May 14.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38749392

Humans do not respond equally to vaccination. To investigate why, Mulè et al. developed a multimodal framework and found that high responders after unadjuvanted influenza vaccination exist in a naturally adjuvanted state, mimicking innate immunophenotypes following AS03-adjuvanted vaccination. This highlights biological factors that set apart high-antibody responders and how adjuvants can boost innate immune cues to improve humoral immunity.


Immunity, Innate , Influenza Vaccines , Humans , Influenza Vaccines/immunology , Immunity, Innate/immunology , Influenza, Human/immunology , Influenza, Human/prevention & control , Vaccination , Adjuvants, Immunologic , Immunity, Humoral , Adjuvants, Vaccine , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Animals
10.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 4182, 2024 May 17.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38755157

Bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC) are the correlate of humoral immunity, consistently releasing antibodies into the bloodstream. It remains unclear if BMPC reflect different activation environments or maturation of their precursors. Here we define human BMPC heterogeneity and track the recruitment of antibody-secreting cells (ASC) from SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immune reactions to the bone marrow (BM). Trajectories based on single-cell transcriptomes and repertoires of peripheral and BM ASC reveal sequential colonisation of BMPC compartments. In activated B cells, IL-21 suppresses CD19 expression, indicating that CD19low-BMPC are derived from follicular, while CD19high-BMPC originate from extrafollicular immune reactions. In primary immune reactions, both CD19low- and CD19high-BMPC compartments are populated. In secondary immune reactions, most BMPC are recruited to CD19high-BMPC compartments, reflecting their origin from extrafollicular reactivations of memory B cells. A pattern also observable in vaccinated-convalescent individuals and upon diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis recall-vaccination. Thus, BMPC diversity reflects the evolution of a given humoral immune response.


Antigens, CD19 , Bone Marrow , Interleukins , Plasma Cells , Humans , Plasma Cells/immunology , Interleukins/immunology , Interleukins/metabolism , Bone Marrow/immunology , Antigens, CD19/immunology , Antigens, CD19/metabolism , Immunity, Humoral/immunology , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Bone Marrow Cells/immunology , Bone Marrow Cells/cytology , Single-Cell Analysis , Adult , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Antibody-Producing Cells/immunology , Female , Male , Vaccination , Middle Aged , Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine/immunology
11.
Virulence ; 15(1): 2351266, 2024 12.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38717195

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of fatalities globally. Kidney transplant (KT) patients, given their comorbidities and under immunosuppressant drugs, are identified as a high-risk group. Though vaccination remains pivotal for pandemic control, some studies indicate that KT exhibits diminished immune reactions to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Therefore, evaluating the vaccine responses in KT, especially the humoral responses against emergent variants is crucial.Methods: We developed a multiplexed SARS-CoV-2 variant protein microarray, incorporating the extracellular domain (ECD) and the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike proteins from the variants. This was employed to investigate the collective humoral responses after administering two doses of mRNA-1273 and AZD1222 vaccines in KT under immunosuppressive drugs and in healthy controls.Results: After two doses of either mRNA-1273 or AZD1222, the KT generally showed lower surrogate neutralizing and total antibodies against spike ECD in multiple variants compared to healthy controls. Although two doses of mRNA-1273 induced 1.5-2 fold more surrogate neutralizing and total antibodies than AZD1222 in healthy controls, the KT subjects with two doses of mRNA-1273 generally exhibited higher surrogate neutralizing but similar total antibodies against spike ECD in multiple variants. There were moderate to high correlations between the surrogate neutralizing and total antibodies against spike ECDs.Conclusion: This study offers pivotal insights into the relative vulnerability of KT concerning humoral immunity and the evolving mutations of SARS-CoV-2. Such findings are useful for evaluating vaccine responses and recommending vaccine episodes for KT.


2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273 , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Immunity, Humoral , Kidney Transplantation , SARS-CoV-2 , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , Humans , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Female , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , 2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273/administration & dosage , 2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273/immunology , Adult , Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage , Vaccination , Aged , Transplant Recipients
12.
J Clin Immunol ; 44(5): 124, 2024 May 17.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38758476

PURPOSES: STAT1 is a transduction and transcriptional regulator that functions within the classical JAK/STAT pathway. In addition to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, bacterial infections are a common occurrence in patients with STAT1 gain-of-function (GOF) mutations. These patients often exhibit skewing of B cell subsets; however, the impact of STAT1-GOF mutations on B cell-mediated humoral immunity remains largely unexplored. It is also unclear whether these patients with IgG within normal range require regular intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. METHODS: Eleven patients (harboring nine different STAT1-GOF mutations) were enrolled. Reporter assays and immunoblot analyses were performed to confirm STAT1 mutations. Flow cytometry, deep sequencing, ELISA, and ELISpot were conducted to assess the impact of STAT1-GOF on humoral immunity. RESULTS: All patients exhibited increased levels of phospho-STAT1 and total STAT1 protein, with two patients carrying novel mutations. In vitro assays showed that these two novel mutations were GOF mutations. Three patients with normal total IgG levels received regular IVIG infusions, resulting in effective control of bacterial infections. Four cases showed impaired affinity and specificity of pertussis toxin-specific antibodies, accompanied by reduced generation of class-switched memory B cells. Patients also had a disrupted immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) repertoire, coupled with a marked reduction in the somatic hypermutation frequency of switched Ig transcripts. CONCLUSION: STAT1-GOF mutations disrupt B cell compartments and skew IGH characteristics, resulting in impaired affinity and antigen-specificity of antibodies and recurrent bacterial infections. Regular IVIG therapy can control these infections in patients, even those with normal total IgG levels.


B-Lymphocytes , Bacterial Infections , Gain of Function Mutation , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous , STAT1 Transcription Factor , Humans , STAT1 Transcription Factor/genetics , Bacterial Infections/immunology , Bacterial Infections/genetics , Female , Male , Child , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Adult , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Child, Preschool , Adolescent , Young Adult , Immunity, Humoral
13.
Science ; 384(6695): eadj4857, 2024 May 03.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38696569

B lymphocytes are essential mediators of humoral immunity and play multiple roles in human cancer. To decode the functions of tumor-infiltrating B cells, we generated a B cell blueprint encompassing single-cell transcriptome, B cell-receptor repertoire, and chromatin accessibility data across 20 different cancer types (477 samples, 269 patients). B cells harbored extraordinary heterogeneity and comprised 15 subsets, which could be grouped into two independent developmental paths (extrafollicular versus germinal center). Tumor types grouped into the extrafollicular pathway were linked with worse clinical outcomes and resistance to immunotherapy. The dysfunctional extrafollicular program was associated with glutamine-derived metabolites through epigenetic-metabolic cross-talk, which promoted a T cell-driven immunosuppressive program. These data suggest an intratumor B cell balance between extrafollicular and germinal-center responses and suggest that humoral immunity could possibly be harnessed for B cell-targeting immunotherapy.


B-Lymphocytes , Germinal Center , Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating , Neoplasms , Humans , Neoplasms/immunology , Neoplasms/therapy , Neoplasms/genetics , Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Germinal Center/immunology , Immunotherapy , Transcriptome , Single-Cell Analysis , Epigenesis, Genetic , Immunity, Humoral , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/genetics , Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/metabolism , Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/immunology
14.
Swiss Med Wkly ; 154: 3734, 2024 Apr 13.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38689545

AIMS OF THE STUDY: We aimed to assess the extent of SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity elicited by previous infections and/or vaccination among healthcare workers, and to identify reasons why healthcare workers decided against vaccination. METHODS: This nested cross-sectional study included volunteer healthcare workers from 14 healthcare institutions in German-speaking Switzerland. In January 2021, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were available for healthcare workers. In May and June 2022, participants answered electronic questionnaires regarding baseline characteristics including SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (with one or more vaccine doses defined as vaccinated) and previous SARS-CoV-2 infections. Unvaccinated participants indicated their reasons for non-vaccination. Participants underwent testing for SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike (anti-S) and anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) antibodies. Antibody prevalence was described across age groups. In addition, we performed multivariable logistic regression to identify baseline characteristics independently associated with non-vaccination and described reasons for non-vaccination. RESULTS: Among 22,438 eligible employees, 3,436 (15%) participated; the median age was 43.7 years (range 16-73), 2,794 (81.3%) were female, and 1,407 (47.7%) identified as nurses; 3,414 (99.4%) underwent serology testing, among whom 3,383 (99.0%) had detectable anti-S (3,357, 98.3%) antibodies, anti-N (2,396, 70.1%) antibodies, or both (2,370, 69.4%). A total of 296 (8.6%) healthcare workers were unvaccinated, whereas 3,140 (91.4%) were vaccinated. In multivariable analysis, age (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.02 per year, 95% CI 1.01-1.03), being a physician (aOR 3.22, 95% CI 1.75-5.92) or administrator (aOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.27-2.80), and having higher education (aOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.09-4.57) were positively associated with vaccine uptake, whereas working in non-acute care (aOR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34-0.97), active smoking (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.51-0.91), and taking prophylactic home remedies against SARS-CoV-2 (aOR 0.42, 95% CI 0.31-0.56) were negatively associated. Important reasons for non-vaccination were a belief that the vaccine might not have long-lasting immunity (267/291, 92.1%) and a preference for gaining naturally acquired instead of vaccine-induced immunity (241/289, 83.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Almost all healthcare workers in our cohort had specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 from natural infection and/or from vaccination. Young healthcare workers and those working in non-acute settings were less likely to be vaccinated, whereas physicians and administrative staff showed higher vaccination uptake. Presumed ineffectiveness of the vaccine is an important reason for non-vaccination.


COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Health Personnel , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , Switzerland , Cross-Sectional Studies , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/immunology , Health Personnel/statistics & numerical data , Female , Male , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Adult , Middle Aged , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Vaccination/statistics & numerical data , Young Adult , Adolescent , Immunity, Humoral , Surveys and Questionnaires , Aged
15.
Expert Rev Vaccines ; 23(1): 498-509, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38695310

BACKGROUND: Vaccination remains the cornerstone of defense against COVID-19 globally. This study aims to assess the safety and immunogenicity profile of innovative vaccines LYB001. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial, in 100 healthy Chinese adults (21 to 72 years old). Three doses of 30 or 60 µg of SARS-CoV-2 RBD-based VLP vaccine (LYB001), or the SARS-CoV-2 RBD-based protein subunit vaccine (ZF2001, control group) were administered with a 28-day interval. Differences in the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and indicators of humoral and cellular immunity among the different groups were measured. RESULTS: No severe adverse events were confirmed to be vaccine-related, and there was no significant difference in the rate of adverse events between the LYB001 and control group or the age subgroups (p > 0.05). The LYB001 groups had significantly higher or comparable levels of seroconversion rates, neutralization antibody, S protein-binding antibody, and cellular immunity after whole vaccination than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support that LYB001 developed on the VLP platform is safe and well tolerated with favorable immunogenicity for fundamental vaccination in healthy adults. Therefore, further larger-scale clinical studies are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05552573).


Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , Adult , Middle Aged , Double-Blind Method , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects , COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , Male , Female , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Aged , Young Adult , Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/immunology , Immunogenicity, Vaccine , Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/immunology , Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/adverse effects , Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/administration & dosage , Immunity, Cellular , China , Immunity, Humoral , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Vaccination/methods , Vaccines, Subunit/immunology , Vaccines, Subunit/adverse effects , Vaccines, Subunit/administration & dosage , East Asian People
16.
Front Immunol ; 15: 1381508, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38690272

Seasonal influenza remains a serious global health problem, leading to high mortality rates among the elderly and individuals with comorbidities. Vaccination is generally accepted as the most effective strategy for influenza prevention. While current influenza vaccines are effective, they still have limitations, including narrow specificity for certain serological variants, which may result in a mismatch between vaccine antigens and circulating strains. Additionally, the rapid variability of the virus poses challenges in providing extended protection beyond a single season. Therefore, mRNA technology is particularly promising for influenza prevention, as it enables the rapid development of multivalent vaccines and allows for quick updates of their antigenic composition. mRNA vaccines have already proven successful in preventing COVID-19 by eliciting rapid cellular and humoral immune responses. In this study, we present the development of a trivalent mRNA vaccine candidate, evaluate its immunogenicity using the hemagglutination inhibition assay, ELISA, and assess its efficacy in animals. We demonstrate the higher immunogenicity of the mRNA vaccine candidate compared to the inactivated split influenza vaccine and its enhanced ability to generate a cross-specific humoral immune response. These findings highlight the potential mRNA technology in overcoming current limitations of influenza vaccines and hold promise for ensuring greater efficacy in preventing seasonal influenza outbreaks.


Antibodies, Viral , Cross Reactions , Immunity, Humoral , Influenza Vaccines , mRNA Vaccines , Influenza Vaccines/immunology , Animals , mRNA Vaccines/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Humans , Cross Reactions/immunology , Mice , Influenza, Human/prevention & control , Influenza, Human/immunology , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/immunology , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/prevention & control , Female , Seasons , Immunogenicity, Vaccine , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/immunology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/immunology , Vaccination
18.
Vaccine ; 42(15): 3410-3419, 2024 May 31.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38641498

The application of recombinant herpesvirus of turkey, expressing the H9 hemagglutinin gene from low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) H9N2 and the avian orthoavulavirus-1 (AOAV-1) (commonly known as Newcastle Disease virus (NDV)) fusion protein (F) as an rHVT-H9-F vaccine, is an alternative to currently used classical vaccines. This study investigated H9- and ND-specific humoral and mucosal responses, H9-specific cell-mediated immunity, and protection conferred by the rHVT-H9-F vaccine in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. Vaccination elicited systemic NDV F- and AIV H9-specific antibody response but also local antibodies in eye wash fluid and oropharyngeal swabs. The ex vivo H9-specific stimulation of splenic and pulmonary T cells in the vaccinated group demonstrated the ability of vaccination to induce systemic and local cellular responses. The clinical protection against a challenge using a LPAIV H9N2 strain of the G1 lineage isolated in Morocco in 2016 was associated with a shorter duration of shedding along with reduced viral genome load in the upper respiratory tract and reduced cloacal shedding compared to unvaccinated controls.


Antibodies, Viral , Chickens , Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype , Influenza Vaccines , Influenza in Birds , Virus Shedding , Animals , Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype/immunology , Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype/genetics , Chickens/immunology , Influenza in Birds/prevention & control , Influenza in Birds/immunology , Influenza Vaccines/immunology , Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Virus Shedding/immunology , Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms , Newcastle disease virus/immunology , Newcastle disease virus/genetics , Poultry Diseases/prevention & control , Poultry Diseases/immunology , Poultry Diseases/virology , Immunity, Cellular , Herpesvirus 1, Meleagrid/immunology , Herpesvirus 1, Meleagrid/genetics , Vaccination/methods , Immunity, Humoral , Genetic Vectors/immunology , Immunogenicity, Vaccine , Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology , Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage , Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/immunology , Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/genetics
19.
J Clin Invest ; 134(7)2024 Apr 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38557487

Endothelial function and integrity are compromised after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), but how this affects immune responses broadly remains unknown. Using a preclinical model of CMV reactivation after BMT, we found compromised antiviral humoral responses induced by IL-6 signaling. IL-6 signaling in T cells maintained Th1 cells, resulting in sustained IFN-γ secretion, which promoted endothelial cell (EC) injury, loss of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) responsible for IgG recycling, and rapid IgG loss. T cell-specific deletion of IL-6R led to persistence of recipient-derived, CMV-specific IgG and inhibited CMV reactivation. Deletion of IFN-γ in donor T cells also eliminated EC injury and FcRn loss. In a phase III clinical trial, blockade of IL-6R with tocilizumab promoted CMV-specific IgG persistence and significantly attenuated early HCMV reactivation. In sum, IL-6 invoked IFN-γ-dependent EC injury and consequent IgG loss, leading to CMV reactivation. Hence, cytokine inhibition represents a logical strategy to prevent endothelial injury, thereby preserving humoral immunity after immunotherapy.


Bone Marrow Transplantation , Cytomegalovirus Infections , Immunity, Humoral , Interleukin-6 , Antiviral Agents , Bone Marrow Transplantation/adverse effects , Cytomegalovirus Infections/immunology , Cytomegalovirus Infections/metabolism , Immunoglobulin G , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Animals , Mice
20.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol ; 14: 1370859, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38572317

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the humoral and cellular immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination according to the type of vaccine, number of doses and combination of vaccines. Methods: Volunteer subjects were sampled between September 2021 and July 2022 in Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid (Spain). Participants had different immunological status against SARS-CoV-2: vaccinated and unvaccinated, with or without previous COVID-19 infection, including healthy and immunocompromised individuals. Determination of IgG against the spike protein S1 subunit receptor-binding domain (RBD) was performed by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) using the Architect i10000sr platform (Abbott). The SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses were assessed by quantification of interferon gamma release using QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 assay (Qiagen). Results: A total of 181 samples were collected, 170 were from vaccinated individuals and 11 from unvaccinated. Among the participants, 41 were aware of having previously been infected by SARS-CoV-2. Vaccinated people received one or two doses of the following vaccines against SARS-CoV-2: ChAdOx1-S (University of Oxford-AstraZeneca) (AZ) and/orBNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech)(PZ). Subjects immunized with a third-booster dose received PZ or mRNA-1273 (Moderna-NIAID)(MD) vaccines. All vaccinees developed a positive humoral response (>7.1 BAU/ml), but the cellular response varied depending on the vaccination regimen. Only AZ/PZ combination and 3 doses of vaccination elicited a positive cellular response (median concentration of IFN- γ > 0.3 IU/ml). Regarding a two-dose vaccination regimen, AZ/PZ combination induced the highest humoral and cellular immunity. A booster with mRNA vaccine resulted in increases in median levels of IgG-Spike antibodies and IFN-γ as compared to those of two-dose of any vaccine. Humoral and cellular immunity levels were significantly higher in participants with previous infection compared to those without infection. Conclusion: Heterologous vaccination (AZ/PZ) elicited the strongest immunity among the two-dose vaccination regimens. The immunity offered by the third-booster dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine depends not only on the type of vaccine administered but also on previous doses and prior infection. Previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 antigens by infection strongly affect immunity of vaccinated individuals.


COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19/prevention & control , Vaccination , Immunity, Cellular , Immunoglobulin G , Antibodies, Viral , Immunity, Humoral
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