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Trombetta CM, Marchi S, Leonardi M, Coppola C, Benincasa L, Marotta MG, Buonvino N, Maes P, Stufano A, Pontrelli D, Vasinioti VI, Manenti A, Camero M, Montomoli E, Decaro N, Lovreglio P. Evaluation of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages six months after different vaccination regimens in Italy. Acta Trop 2023; 248:107042. [PMID: 37863379 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
The Omicron variant is the most divergent, displaying more mutations than previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly in the gene that encodes the spike protein. This study aimed to assess the persistence of neutralizing antibodies towards the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages (BA.2, BA.5, BQ.1, XBB and XBB1.5) six months after the third dose in different vaccination regimens. Subjects who received 3 doses of mRNA vaccine retained their neutralization activity against BA.2 and BA.5, even though 56.3% and 66.7% showed a ≥ 2-fold reduction in the neutralizing antibody titre, respectively. Subjects who had received the adenovirus-based vaccine plus a booster dose of mRNA vaccine retained their neutralization activity especially against BA.2. With regard to BQ.1, XBB and XBB.1.5, the majority of the subjects showed a ≥ 2-fold reduction in neutralizing antibody titre, with the greatest evasion being observed in the case of XBB. Overall, our results provide further evidence that triple homologous/heterologous vaccination and hybrid immunity result in detectable neutralizing antibodies against the ancestral virus; however, emerging Omicron sublineages, such as XBB and XBB.1.5, show a great evasive capacity, which compromises the effectiveness of current COVID-19 vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Maria Trombetta
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, Siena 53100, Italy.
| | - Serena Marchi
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, Siena 53100, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Coppola
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, Siena 53100, Italy
| | | | - Maria Giovanna Marotta
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, Siena 53100, Italy
| | | | - Piet Maes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Emanuele Montomoli
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, Siena 53100, Italy; VisMederi Research Srl, Siena, Italy; VisMederi Srl, Siena, Italy
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Jäger M, Diem G, Sahanic S, Fux V, Griesmacher A, Lass-Flörl C, Wilflingseder D, Tancevski I, Posch W. Immunity of Heterologously and Homologously Boosted or Convalescent Individuals Against Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5 Variants. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:160-168. [PMID: 36869832 PMCID: PMC10345468 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variants BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5 demonstrate higher transmission and infection rates than previous variants of concern. To evaluate effectiveness of heterologous and homologous booster vaccination, we directly compared cellular and humoral immune responses as well as neutralizing capacity against replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 wild type, Delta, and Omicron variants BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5. METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum samples from 137 participants were investigated, in 3 major groups. Individuals in the first group were vaccinated twice with ChAdOx1 and boosted with a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273); the second group included triple mRNA--vaccinated participants, and the third group, twice-vaccinated and convalescent individuals. RESULTS Vaccination and convalescence resulted in the highest SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels, stronger T-cell responses, and best neutralization against wild type, Delta Omicron BA.2, and BA.4/5, while a combination of ChAdOx1 and BNT162b2 vaccination elevated neutralizing capacity against Omicron BA.1. In addition, heterologous booster regimens, compared with homologous regimens, showed higher efficacy against Omicron BA.2 as well as BA.4/5. CONCLUSIONS We showed that twice-vaccinated and convalescent individuals demonstrated the strongest immunity against Omicron BA.2 and BA.4/5 variant, followed by those receiving heterologous and homologous booster vaccine regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Jäger
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gabriel Diem
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sabina Sahanic
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Vilmos Fux
- Central Institute for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Central Institute for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Doris Wilflingseder
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ivan Tancevski
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Wilfried Posch
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Pichler R, Diem G, Hackl H, Koutník J, Mertens LS, D`Andrea D, Pradere B, Soria F, Mari A, Laukhtina E, Krajewski W, Teoh JYC, Del Guidice F, Moschini M, Thurnher M, Posch W. Intravesical BCG in bladder cancer induces innate immune responses against SARS-CoV-2. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1202157. [PMID: 37520557 PMCID: PMC10374029 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1202157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BCG is the most efficient adjuvant therapy for high-risk, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Both innate and adaptive immune responses have been implicated in BCG-mediated effects. BCG vaccination can boost innate immune responses via trained immunity (TI), resulting in an increased resistance to respiratory viral infections. Here we evaluated for the first time whether intravesical application of BCG triggers increased immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with high-risk NMIBC. Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from heparinized whole blood samples of 11 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-naïve high-risk NMIBC patients were collected at baseline and during BCG treatment in a pre-COVID-19 era. To examine B-cell or T cell-dependent adaptive immunity against SARS-CoV-2, sera were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. Using a SARS-CoV-2 peptide pool, virus-specific T cells were quantified via IFNγ ELISpot assays. To analyze innate immune responses, mRNA and protein expression levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured after a 24-hour stimulation of PBMCs with either BCG or SARS-CoV-2 wildtype. ATAC- sequencing was performed to identify a potential epigenetic reprogramming in immune cells. We neither identified SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies nor SARS-CoV-2- reactive T cells, indicating that intravesical BCG did not induce adaptive immunity against SARS-CoV-2. However, a significant increase in mRNA as well as protein expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα, which are key cytokines of trained immunity, could be observed after at least four intravesical BCG instillations. Genomic regions in the proximity of TI genes (TLR2, IGF1R, AKT1, MTOR, MAPK14, HSP90AA1) were more accessible during BCG compared to baseline. Although intravesical BCG did not induce adaptive immune responses, repetitive intravesical instillations of BCG induced circulating innate immune cells that produce TI cytokines also in response to SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renate Pichler
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gabriel Diem
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hubert Hackl
- Institute of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jiří Koutník
- Institute of Cell Genetics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Laura S. Mertens
- Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - David D`Andrea
- Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin Pradere
- Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Urology, Croix Du Sud Hospital, Quint-Fonsegrives, France
| | - Francesco Soria
- Department of Urology, Molinette Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Mari
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence - Unit of Oncologic Minimally-Invasive Urology and Andrology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Ekaterina Laukhtina
- Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute for Urology and Reproductive Health, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Wojciech Krajewski
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urology, Wrocław Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jeremy Yuen-Chun Teoh
- Department of Surgery, S.H. Ho Urology Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Francesco Del Guidice
- Department of Maternal Infant and Urologic Sciences, ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Moschini
- Department of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Martin Thurnher
- Immunotherapy Unit, Department of Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Wilfried Posch
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Aijaz J, Kanani F, Naseer F. Utility of Roche Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 S in ascertaining post-vaccine neutralizing antibodies. J Clin Virol Plus 2023; 3:100137. [PMID: 36644775 PMCID: PMC9832685 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcvp.2023.100137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
With widespread global COVID-19 vaccine coverage, a scalable, cost-effective, and standardized tool to ascertain post-vaccine immunity is a dire need. Neither clinical evaluations of vaccine efficacy, nor live virus antibody neutralization assays fulfill these criteria. Commercially available anti-S binding immunological assays have the potential to fill this gap, but need to be systematically evaluated for their utility to serve as surrogates for the aforementioned, widely accepted tools of determining vaccine efficacy. In this study, we evaluated an anti-S binding immunological assay (Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S) by utilizing two hundred and fifty-five archived serum specimens, either pre-pandemic, or those exposed to natural infections or vaccines with their neutralizing titers pre-determined through a live virus, pseudotyped antibody neutralization assay. Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S demonstrated good sensitivity (98%) and specificity (99%), just as has been reported in some other previously conducted studies using this assay. Only a mild correlation, however, with the live virus pseudotyped lentivirus antibody neutralization assay (Spearman's r = 0.26) was observed. We conclude that, as such, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S has a high sensitivity and specificity for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 S proteins, though the assay does not always correlate well with live virus assays for quantitative outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javeria Aijaz
- Molecular Biology Section, Pathology Department, Indus Hospital and Health Network, Plot C-76, Sector 31/5, Opposite، Crossing، Darussalam Society Sector 39 Korangi, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan,Corresponding author
| | - Fatima Kanani
- Chemical Pathology Section, Pathology Department, Indus Hospital & Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Fouzia Naseer
- Molecular Biology Section, Pathology Department, Indus Hospital and Health Network, Plot C-76, Sector 31/5, Opposite، Crossing، Darussalam Society Sector 39 Korangi, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
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