Publications
187 results found
, 2022, Su1485: COVID-19 VACCINE-INDUCED ANTIBODY RESPONSES ARE IMPAIRED IN IBD PATIENTS TREATED WITH INFLIXIMAB, USTEKINUMAB OR TOFACITINIB, BUT NOT THIOPURINES OR VEDOLIZUMAB, Gastroenterology, Vol: 162, ISSN: 0016-5085
Alexander JL, Kennedy N, Ibraheim H, et al., 2022, COVID-19 VACCINE-INDUCED ANTIBODY RESPONSES ARE IMPAIRED IN IBD PATIENTS TREATED WITH INFLIXIMAB, USTEKINUMAB OR TOFACITINIB, BUT NOT THIOPURINES OR VEDOLIZUMAB, Publisher: W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC
Gois BM, Peixoto RF, Guerra-Gomes IC, et al., 2022, Regulatory T cells in acute and chronic human Chikungunya infection, Microbes and Infection: a journal on infectious agents and host defenses, Vol: 24, Pages: 1-4, ISSN: 1286-4579
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection generates strong immune responses that are associated with the disease pathophysiology. Regulatory T cells (Treg-cluster of differentiation (CD)-4+CD25highforkhead box P3 (FOXP3+)) are essential for the induction and maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Thus, they play key roles in determining the patient prognosis by preventing excessive immune responses via different suppression immune mechanisms. However, the regulatory mechanisms involved in human CHIKV infection are still poorly understood. Here, we characterize for the first time the Treg cell molecule-associated-mechanism during acute and chronic human Chikungunya disease. Here, we assessed the Treg cell population and molecule-associated mechanism in the peripheral blood samples of acute and chronic patients with Chikungunya. Our results indicate that CHIKV infection is associated with reduced frequency of Tregs, along with the impaired expression and production of Treg functional markers, including CD39, CD73, perforin, granzyme, programmed death 1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)-4, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. This observation suggests that Treg cells possess the poor regulatory capacity in both acute and chronic phases of the disease. Taken together, these data provide significant evidence that the imbalanced response of Treg cells plays an essential role in establishing the pathogenesis of Chikungunya.
Alexander JL, Kennedy NA, Ibraheim H, et al., 2022, COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody responses in immunosuppressed patients with inflammatory bowel disease (VIP): a multicentre, prospective, case-control study, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Vol: 7, Pages: 342-352, ISSN: 2468-1253
BACKGROUND: The effects that therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have on immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are not yet fully known. Therefore, we sought to determine whether COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody responses were altered in patients with IBD on commonly used immunosuppressive drugs. METHODS: In this multicentre, prospective, case-control study (VIP), we recruited adults with IBD treated with one of six different immunosuppressive treatment regimens (thiopurines, infliximab, a thiopurine plus infliximab, ustekinumab, vedolizumab, or tofacitinib) and healthy control participants from nine centres in the UK. Eligible participants were aged 18 years or older and had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines (either ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 [Oxford-AstraZeneca], BNT162b2 [Pfizer-BioNTech], or mRNA1273 [Moderna]) 6-12 weeks apart (according to scheduling adopted in the UK). We measured antibody responses 53-92 days after a second vaccine dose using the Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The primary outcome was anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody concentrations in participants without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, adjusted by age and vaccine type, and was analysed by use of multivariable linear regression models. This study is registered in the ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN13495664, and is ongoing. FINDINGS: Between May 31 and Nov 24, 2021, we recruited 483 participants, including patients with IBD being treated with thiopurines (n=78), infliximab (n=63), a thiopurine plus infliximab (n=72), ustekinumab (n=57), vedolizumab (n=62), or tofacitinib (n=30), and 121 healthy controls. We included 370 participants without evidence of previous infection in our primary analysis. Geometric mean anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody concentrations were significantly lower in patients treated with infliximab (156·8 U/mL [geometric SD 5·7]; p<0·0001), infliximab plus thiopurine (111·1 U/mL [5·
Lin S, Kennedy NA, Saifuddin A, et al., 2022, Antibody decay, T cell immunity and breakthrough infections following two SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses in inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with infliximab and vedolizumab, Nature Communications, Vol: 13, ISSN: 2041-1723
Anti tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs increase the risk of serious respiratory infection and impair protective immunity following pneumococcal and influenza vaccination. Here we report SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced immune responses and breakthrough infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, who are treated either with the anti-TNF antibody, infliximab, or with vedolizumab targeting a gut-specific anti-integrin that does not impair systemic immunity. Geometric mean [SD] anti-S RBD antibody concentrations are lower and half-lives shorter in patients treated with infliximab than vedolizumab, following two doses of BNT162b2 (566.7 U/mL [6.2] vs 4555.3 U/mL [5.4], p <0.0001; 26.8 days [95% CI 26.2 – 27.5] vs 47.6 days [45.5 – 49.8], p <0.0001); similar results are also observed with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination (184.7 U/mL [5.0] vs 784.0 U/mL [3.5], p <0.0001; 35.9 days [34.9 – 36.8] vs 58.0 days [55.0 – 61.3], p value < 0.0001). One fifth of patients fail to mount a T cell response in both treatment groups. Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections are more frequent (5.8% (201/3441) vs 3.9% (66/1682), p = 0.0039) in patients treated with infliximab than vedolizumab, and the risk of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection is predicted by peak anti-S RBD antibody concentration after two vaccine doses. Irrespective of the treatments, higher, more sustained antibody levels are observed in patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to vaccination. Our results thus suggest that adapted vaccination schedules may be required to induce immunity in at-risk, anti-TNF-treated patients.
Altmann DM, Boyton RJ, 2022, COVID-19 vaccination: The road ahead, SCIENCE, Vol: 375, Pages: 1127-1132, ISSN: 0036-8075
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 76
Astbury S, Reynolds CJ, Butler DK, et al., 2022, HLA-DR polymorphism in SARS-CoV-2 infection and susceptibility to symptomatic COVID-19, Immunology, Vol: 166, Pages: 68-77, ISSN: 0019-2805
SARS-CoV-2 infection results in different outcomes ranging from asymptomatic infection to mild or severe disease and death. Reasons for this diversity of outcome include differences in challenge dose, age, gender, comorbidity and host genomic variation. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms may influence immune response and disease outcome. We investigated the association of HLAII alleles with case definition symptomatic COVID-19, virus-specific antibody and T-cell immunity. A total of 1364 UK healthcare workers (HCWs) were recruited during the first UK SARS-CoV-2 wave and analysed longitudinally, encompassing regular PCR screening for infection, symptom reporting, imputation of HLAII genotype and analysis for antibody and T-cell responses to nucleoprotein (N) and spike (S). Of 272 (20%) HCW who seroconverted, the presence of HLA-DRB1*13:02 was associated with a 6·7-fold increased risk of case definition symptomatic COVID-19. In terms of immune responsiveness, HLA-DRB1*15:02 was associated with lower nucleocapsid T-cell responses. There was no association between DRB1 alleles and anti-spike antibody titres after two COVID vaccine doses. However, HLA DRB1*15:01 was associated with increased spike T-cell responses following both first and second dose vaccination. Trial registration: NCT04318314 and ISRCTN15677965.
Chandran A, Rosenheim J, Nageswaran G, et al., 2022, Rapid synchronous type 1 IFN and virus-specific T cell responses characterize first wave non-severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, Cell Reports Medicine, Vol: 3, Pages: 1-16, ISSN: 2666-3791
Effective control of SARS-CoV-2 infection on primary exposure may reveal correlates of protective immunity to future variants, but we lack insights into immune responses before or at the time virus is first detected. We use blood transcriptomics, multiparameter flow cytometry, and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing spanning the time of incident non-severe infection in unvaccinated virus-naive individuals to identify rapid type 1 interferon (IFN) responses common to other acute respiratory viruses and cell proliferation responses that discriminate SARS-CoV-2 from other viruses. These peak by the time the virus is first detected and sometimes precede virus detection. Cell proliferation is most evident in CD8 T cells and associated with specific expansion of SARS-CoV-2-reactive TCRs, in contrast to virus-specific antibodies, which lag by 1–2 weeks. Our data support a protective role for early type 1 IFN and CD8 T cell responses, with implications for development of universal T cell vaccines.
Alexander J, Powell N, Liu Z, et al., 2022, A prospective, case-control study of COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody responses in immunosuppressed patients with IBD, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, ISSN: 2468-1253
Background:We sought to determine whether COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody responses were diminished in patients with IBD on commonly used immunosuppressive drugs.Methods:We prospectively recruited 483 adults (121 healthy controls and 362 IBD) following two doses of either ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford/AstraZeneca), BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) or mRNA1273 (Moderna) vaccines (doses delivered between six to twelve weeks apart according to scheduling adopted in the United Kingdom). IBD medications studied comprised thiopurines (n=78), infliximab (n=63), thiopurine/infliximab combination therapy (n=72), ustekinumab (n=57), vedolizumab (n=62) or tofacitinib (n=30). The pre-defined primary outcome was anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike (anti-S1 RBD) antibody concentrations, 53-92 days after second vaccine dose, in 370 participants without prior infection, adjusted by age and vaccine type. Findings:Geometric mean [geometric SD] anti-S1 RBD antibody concentrations were significantly lower in patients treated with infliximab (157U/mL [5.7]; P<0.0001), infliximab and thiopurine combination (111U/mL [5.7]; P<0.0001) and tofacitinib (430 U/mL [3.1]; P=0.0012) compared to controls (1578U/ml [3.7]). There were no significant differences in anti-S1 RBD antibody concentrations between control subjects and thiopurine (1020U/mL [4.3]; P=0.74), nor ustekinumab (582U/mL [4.6]; P=0.11), nor vedolizumab treated patients (954U/mL [4.1]; P=0.50). In multivariable modelling, lower anti-S1 RBD antibody concentrations were independently associated with infliximab (Geometric mean ratio 0.12, 95% CI 0.08-0.17, P<0.0001) and tofacitinib (0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.81, P=0.009), but not with ustekinumab (0.69, 95% CI 0.41-1.19, P=0.18), thiopurine (0.89, 95% CI [0.64-1.24], P=0.50) or vedolizumab (1.16, 95% CI 0.74-1.83, P=0.51). mRNA vaccines (3.68 [95% CI 2.80-4.84], P<0.0001) and older age (0.79 [95% CI 0.72-0.87], P<0.0001) were independently associated with higher and lower anti-S1 antibody concentrati
Lin S, Kennedy NA, Saifuddin A, et al., 2022, Antibody decay, T cell immunity and breakthrough infections following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in infliximab- and vedolizumab-treated patients, Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, Pages: I023-I025, ISSN: 1873-9946
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 1
Alexander J, Kennedy N, Ibraheim H, et al., 2022, COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody responses are impaired in Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients treated with infliximab, ustekinumab or tofacitinib, but not thiopurines or vedolizumab, Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, Pages: I022-I023, ISSN: 1873-9946
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 1
Reynolds CJ, Gibbons JM, Pade C, et al., 2021, Heterologous infection and vaccination shapes immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants., Science, Vol: 375, Pages: eabm0811-eabm0811, ISSN: 0036-8075
The impact of initial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infecting strain on downstream immunity to heterologous variants of concern (VOC) is unknown. Studying a longitudinal healthcare worker cohort, we found that after three antigen exposures (infection+two vaccine doses), S1 antibody, memory B cells and heterologous neutralization of B.1.351, P.1 and B.1.617.2 plateaued, while B.1.1.7 neutralization and spike T cell responses increased. Serology using Wuhan Hu-1 spike receptor binding domain poorly predicted neutralizing immunity against VOCs. Neutralization potency against VOCs changed with heterologous virus encounter and number of antigen exposures. Neutralization potency fell differentially depending on targeted VOCs over 5-months from the second vaccine dose. Heterologous combinations of spike encountered during infection and vaccination shape subsequent cross-protection against VOC, with implications for future-proof next-generation vaccines.
Altmann DM, Boyton RJ, 2021, SARS-Cov-2 immune waning and reinfection in care-home settings, The Lancet Healthy Longevity, Vol: 2, Pages: E776-E777, ISSN: 2666-7568
Altmann DM, Boyton RJ, 2021, Waning immunity to SARS-CoV-2: implications for vaccine booster strategies., The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Vol: 9, Pages: 1356-1358, ISSN: 2213-2600
Tomás-Cortázar J, Bossi L, Quinn C, et al., 2021, BpOmpW antigen stimulates the Necessary Protective T-Cell Responses Against Melioidosis., Frontiers in Immunology, Vol: 12, ISSN: 1664-3224
Melioidosis is a potentially fatal bacterial disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei and is estimated to cause 89,000 deaths per year in endemic areas of Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. People with diabetes mellitus are most at risk of melioidosis, with a 12-fold increased susceptibility for severe disease. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) responses from CD4 and CD8 T cells, but also from natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells, are necessary to eliminate the pathogen. We previously reported that immunization with B. pseudomallei OmpW (BpOmpW antigen) protected mice from lethal B. pseudomallei challenge for up to 81 days. Elucidating the immune correlates of protection of the protective BpOmpW vaccine is an essential step prior to clinical trials. Thus, we immunized either non-insulin-resistant C57BL/6J mice or an insulin-resistant C57BL/6J mouse model of type 2 diabetes (T2D) with a single dose of BpOmpW. BpOmpW induced strong antibody responses, stimulated effector CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, and produced higher IFN-γ responses in CD4+, CD8+, NK, and NKT cells in non-insulin-resistant mice. The T-cell responses of insulin-resistant mice to BpOmpW were comparable to those of non-insulin-resistant mice. In addition, as a precursor to its evaluation in human studies, humanized HLA-DR and HLA-DQ (human leukocyte antigen DR and DQ isotypes, respectively) transgenic mice elicited IFN-γ recall responses in an enzyme-linked immune absorbent spot (ELISpot)-based study. Moreover, human donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) exposed to BpOmpW for 7 days showed T-cell proliferation. Finally, plasma from melioidosis survivors with diabetes recognized our BpOmpW vaccine antigen. Overall, the range of approaches used strongly indicated that BpOmpW elicits the necessary immune responses to combat melioidosis and bring this vaccine closer to clinical trials.
Altmann D, Boyton R, 2021, Covid-19 caseload in the UK-assessments and mitigations, BMJ: British Medical Journal, Vol: 375, ISSN: 0959-535X
Altmann DM, Boyton RJ, 2021, Vaccine efficacy and immune interference: co-administering COVID-19 and influenza vaccines., The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, ISSN: 2213-2600
Swadling L, Diniz MO, Schmidt NM, et al., 2021, Pre-existing polymerase-specific T cells expand in abortive seronegative SARS-CoV-2, Nature, Vol: 601, Pages: 110-117, ISSN: 0028-0836
Individuals with potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2 do not necessarily develop PCR or antibody positivity, suggesting some may clear sub-clinical infection before seroconversion. T-cells can contribute to the rapid clearance of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronavirus infections1-3. We hypothesised that pre-existing memory T-cell responses, with cross-protective potential against SARS-CoV-24-11, would expand in vivo to support rapid viral control, aborting infection. We measured SARS-CoV-2-reactive T-cells, including those against the early transcribed replication transcription complex (RTC)12,13, in intensively monitored healthcare workers (HCW) remaining repeatedly negative by PCR, antibody binding, and neutralisation (seronegative HCW, SN-HCW). SN-HCW had stronger, more multispecific memory T-cells than an unexposed pre-pandemic cohort, and more frequently directed against the RTC than the structural protein-dominated responses seen post-detectable infection (matched concurrent cohort). SN-HCW with the strongest RTC-specific T-cells had an increase in IFI27, a robust early innate signature of SARS-CoV-214, suggesting abortive infection. RNA-polymerase within RTC was the largest region of high sequence conservation across human seasonal coronaviruses (HCoV) and SARS-CoV-2 clades. RNA-polymerase was preferentially targeted (amongst regions tested) by T-cells from pre-pandemic cohorts and SN-HCW. RTC epitope-specific T-cells cross-recognising HCoV variants were identified in SN-HCW. Enriched pre-existing RNA-polymerase-specific T-cells expanded in vivo to preferentially accumulate in the memory response after putative abortive compared to overt SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our data highlight RTC-specific T-cells as targets for vaccines against endemic and emerging Coronaviridae.
Boyton RJ, Altmann DM, 2021, The immunology of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: what are the key questions?, Nature Reviews Immunology, Vol: 21, Pages: 762-768, ISSN: 1474-1733
An important challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic has been to understand asymptomatic disease and the extent to which this may be a source of transmission. As asymptomatic disease is by definition hard to screen for, there is a lack of clarity about this aspect of the COVID-19 spectrum. Studies have considered whether the prevalence of asymptomatic disease is determined by differences in age, demographics, viral load, duration of shedding, and magnitude or durability of immunity. It is clear that adaptive immunity is strongly activated during asymptomatic infection, but some features of the T cell and antibody response may differ from those in symptomatic disease. Areas that need greater clarity include the extent to which asymptomatic disease leads to persistent symptoms (long COVID), and the quality, quantity and durability of immune priming required to confer subsequent protection.
Guerra-Gomes IC, Goisa BM, Peixoto RF, et al., 2021, Phenotypical characterization of regulatory T cells in acute Zika infection, Cytokine, Vol: 146, Pages: 1-7, ISSN: 1096-0023
Zika virus (ZIKV), alongside Dengue virus (DENV), Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Yellow Fever Virus (YFV) are prevalent arboviruses in the Americas. Each of these infections is associated with the development of associated disease immunopathology. Immunopathological processes are an outcome of counter-balancing impacts between effector and regulatory immune mechanisms. In this context, regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key in modulating the immune response and, therefore, in tissue damage control. However, to date, Treg phenotypes and mechanisms during acute infection of the ZIKV in humans have not been fully investigated. The main aim of this work was to characterize Tregs and their immunological profile related to cytokine production and molecules that are capable of controlling the exacerbated inflammatory profile in acute Zika infected patients. Using whole blood analyses of infected patients, an ex vivo phenotypical characterization of Tregs, circulating during acute Zika virus infection, was conducted by flow cytometry. We found that though there are no differences in absolute Treg frequency between infected and healthy control groups. However, pro-inflammatory cytokine up-regulation such as IFN-γ and LAP was observed in the acute disease. Furthermore, acute ZIKV patients expressed increased levels of CD39/CD73, perforin/granzyme B, PD-1, and CTLA-4, all markers involved in mechanisms used by Tregs to attempt to control strong inflammatory responses. Thus, the data indicates a potential contribution of Tregs during the inflammatory ZIKV infection response.
Gupta RK, Rosenheim J, Bell LC, et al., 2021, Blood transcriptional biomarkers of acute viral infection for detection of pre-symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nested, case-control diagnostic accuracy study., The Lancet Microbe, Vol: 2, Pages: e508-e517, ISSN: 2666-5247
Background: We hypothesised that host-response biomarkers of viral infections might contribute to early identification of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, which is critical to breaking the chains of transmission. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of existing candidate whole-blood transcriptomic signatures for viral infection to predict positivity of nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing. Methods: We did a nested case-control diagnostic accuracy study among a prospective cohort of health-care workers (aged ≥18 years) at St Bartholomew's Hospital (London, UK) undergoing weekly blood and nasopharyngeal swab sampling for whole-blood RNA sequencing and SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, when fit to attend work. We identified candidate blood transcriptomic signatures for viral infection through a systematic literature search. We searched MEDLINE for articles published between database inception and Oct 12, 2020, using comprehensive MeSH and keyword terms for "viral infection", "transcriptome", "biomarker", and "blood". We reconstructed signature scores in blood RNA sequencing data and evaluated their diagnostic accuracy for contemporaneous SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared with the gold standard of SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, by quantifying the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivities, and specificities at a standardised Z score of at least 2 based on the distribution of signature scores in test-negative controls. We used pairwise DeLong tests compared with the most discriminating signature to identify the subset of best performing biomarkers. We evaluated associations between signature expression, viral load (using PCR cycle thresholds), and symptom status visually and using Spearman rank correlation. The primary outcome was the AUROC for discriminating between samples from participants who tested negative throughout the study (test-negative controls) and samples from participants with PCR-conf
Pinato D, Murray S, Forner A, et al., 2021, Trans-arterial chemoembolization as a loco-regional inducer of immunogenic cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for immunotherapy., Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, Vol: 9, Pages: 1-9, ISSN: 2051-1426
Background: Modulation of adaptive immunity may underscore the efficacy of TACE. We evaluated the influence of TACE on T-cell function by phenotypic lymphocyte characterization in samples of patients undergoing surgery with (T+) or without (T-) prior-TACE treatment.Methods: We profiled intra-tumoural (IT), peri-tumoural (PT) and non-tumoural background tissue (NT) to evaluate regulatory CD4+/FOXP3+ (T-reg) and immune-exhausted CD8+/PD1+ T-cells across T+ (n=58) and T- (n=61). We performed targeted transcriptomics and T-cell receptor sequencing in a restricted subset of samples (n=24) evaluated in relationship with the expression of actionable drivers of anti-cancer immunity including PD-L1, IDO-1, CTLA-4, Lag-3, Tim-3 and CD163.Results: We analyzed 119 patients resected (n=25, 21%) or transplanted (n=94, 79%) for Child-Pugh A (n=65, 55%) and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage A (n=92, 77%) HCC. T+ samples displayed lower IT CD4+/FOXP3+ (p=0.006), CD8+ (p=0.002) and CD8+/PD1+ and NT CD8+/PD1+ (p<0.001) compared to T-. Lower IT (p=0.005) and NT CD4+/FOXP3+ (p=0.03) predicted for improved recurrence-free survival. In a subset of samples (n=24), transcriptomic analysis revealed up-regulation of a pro-inflammatory response in T+. T+ samples were enriched for IRF2 expression (p=0.01), an interferon-regulated transcription factor implicated in cancer immune-evasion. T-cell clonality and expression of PD-L1, IDO-1, CTLA-4, Lag-3, Tim-3 and CD163 was similar in T+ versus T-.Conclusions: TACE is associated with lower IT density of immune-exhausted effector cytotoxic and T-regs, with significant up-regulation of pro-inflammatory pathways. This highlights the pleiotropic effects of TACE in modulating the tumour microenvironment and strengthens the rationale for developing immunotherapy alongside TACE.
Lin S, Kennedy NA, Saifuddin A, et al., 2021, Covid-19 vaccine-induced antibodies are attenuated and decay rapidly in infliximab treated patients
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>To inform healthcare policy for immunosuppressed patients there is a need to define SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responses. Here we report SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced antibody and T cell responses in patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF), a commonly used biologic in inflammatory diseases, compared to patients treated with vedolizumab, a gut-specific antibody targeting integrin a4b7 that does not impair systemic immunity. In anti-TNF recipients, the magnitude of anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies was reduced five-fold, and rapidly decayed towards the seroconversion threshold by 14 weeks after second dose of vaccine. In contrast, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were sustained up to 16 weeks in vedolizumab-treated patients. Anti-SARS-CoV2 antibody decay was not observed in vaccinated patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. T cell responses were absent in one-fifth of anti-TNF and vedolizumab-treated patients after a second dose of either vaccine. Our data have important implications for anti-TNF recipients, including the need for vaccine prioritization, booster doses, and social distancing strategies.</jats:p>
Reynolds CJ, Pade C, Gibbons JM, et al., 2021, Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection rescues B and T cell responses to variants after first vaccine dose, Science, Vol: 372, Pages: 1418-1423, ISSN: 0036-8075
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine rollout has coincided with the spread of variants of concern. We investigated if single dose vaccination, with or without prior infection, confers cross protective immunity to variants. We analyzed T and B cell responses after first dose vaccination with the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 in healthcare workers (HCW) followed longitudinally, with or without prior Wuhan-Hu-1 SARS-CoV-2 infection. After one dose, individuals with prior infection showed enhanced T cell immunity, antibody secreting memory B cell response to spike and neutralizing antibodies effective against B.1.1.7 and B.1.351. By comparison, HCW receiving one vaccine dose without prior infection showed reduced immunity against variants. B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 spike mutations resulted in increased, abrogated or unchanged T cell responses depending on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms. Single dose vaccination with BNT162b2 in the context of prior infection with a heterologous variant substantially enhances neutralizing antibody responses against variants.
Altmann DM, Reynolds CJ, Boyton RJ, 2021, SARS-CoV-2 variants: Subversion of antibody response and predicted impact on T cell recognition., Cell Reports Medicine, Vol: 2, Pages: 1-3, ISSN: 2666-3791
COVID-19 variants of concern, including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1, encompass mutations facilitating immune evasion. Neutralizing antibody recognition and function may be variably impaired. We considered the impact of mutations on T cell responses. Mutations could be neutral or result in either loss or gain of predicted epitopes depending on HLA type.
McDonald I, Murray S, Reynolds C, et al., 2021, Comparative systematic review and meta-analysis of reactogenicity, immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, npj Vaccines, Vol: 6, ISSN: 2059-0105
As SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are deployed worldwide, a comparative evaluation is important to underpin decision-making. We here report a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of Phase I/II/III human trials and non-human primates (NHP) studies, comparing reactogenicity, immunogenicity and efficacy across different vaccine platforms for comparative evaluation (updated to March 22, 2021). Twenty-three NHP and 32 human studies are included. Vaccines result in mostly mild, self-limiting adverse events. Highest spike neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses are identified for the mRNA-1273-SARS-CoV and adjuvanted NVX-CoV2373-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. ChAdOx-SARS-CoV-2 produces the highest T cell ELISpot responses. Pre-existing nAb against vaccine viral vector are identified following AdH-5-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, halving immunogenicity. The mRNA vaccines depend on boosting to achieve optimal immunogenicity especially in the elderly. BNT162b2, and mRNA-1273 achieve >94%, rAd26/5 > 91% and ChAdOx-SARS-CoV-2 > 66.7% efficacy. Across different vaccine platforms there are trade-offs between antibody binding, functional nAb titers, T cell frequency, reactogenicity and efficacy. Emergence of variants makes rapid mass rollout of high efficacy vaccines essential to reduce any selective advantage.
Boyton RJ, Altmann DM, 2021, Risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection after natural infection, The Lancet, Vol: 397, Pages: 1161-1163, ISSN: 0140-6736
Manisty C, Otter AD, Treibel TA, et al., 2021, Antibody response to first BNT162b2 dose in previously SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, The Lancet, Vol: 397, Pages: 1057-1058, ISSN: 0140-6736
Altmann DM, Boyton RJ, Beale R, 2021, Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, Science, Vol: 371, Pages: 1103-1104, ISSN: 1095-9203
Manisty C, Treibel TA, Jensen M, et al., 2021, Time series analysis and mechanistic modelling of heterogeneity and sero-reversion in antibody responses to mild SARS‑CoV-2 infection, EBioMedicine, Vol: 65, ISSN: 2352-3964
BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 serology is used to identify prior infection at individual and at population level. Extended longitudinal studies with multi-timepoint sampling to evaluate dynamic changes in antibody levels are required to identify the time horizon in which these applications of serology are valid, and to explore the longevity of protective humoral immunity. METHODS: Healthcare workers were recruited to a prospective cohort study from the first SARS-CoV-2 epidemic peak in London, undergoing weekly symptom screen, viral PCR and blood sampling over 16-21 weeks. Serological analysis (n =12,990) was performed using semi-quantitative Euroimmun IgG to viral spike S1 domain and Roche total antibody to viral nucleocapsid protein (NP) assays. Comparisons were made to pseudovirus neutralizing antibody measurements. FINDINGS: A total of 157/729 (21.5%) participants developed positive SARS-CoV-2 serology by one or other assay, of whom 31.0% were asymptomatic and there were no deaths. Peak Euroimmun anti-S1 and Roche anti-NP measurements correlated (r = 0.57, p<0.0001) but only anti-S1 measurements correlated with near-contemporary pseudovirus neutralising antibody titres (measured at 16-18 weeks, r = 0.57, p<0.0001). By 21 weeks' follow-up, 31/143 (21.7%) anti-S1 and 6/150 (4.0%) anti-NP measurements reverted to negative. Mathematical modelling revealed faster clearance of anti-S1 compared to anti-NP (median half-life of 2.5 weeks versus 4.0 weeks), earlier transition to lower levels of antibody production (median of 8 versus 13 weeks), and greater reductions in relative antibody production rate after the transition (median of 35% versus 50%). INTERPRETATION: Mild SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with heterogeneous serological responses in Euroimmun anti-S1 and Roche anti-NP assays. Anti-S1 responses showed faster rates of clearance, more rapid transition from high to low level production rate and greater reduction in production rate
This data is extracted from the Web of Science and reproduced under a licence from Thomson Reuters. You may not copy or re-distribute this data in whole or in part without the written consent of the Science business of Thomson Reuters.