In-depth analysis of T cell immunity and antibody responses in heterologous prime-boost-boost vaccine regimens against SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant

Heinen N, Marheinecke CS, Bessen C, Blazquez-Navarro A, Roch T, Stervbo U, Anft M, Plaza-Sirvent C, Busse S, Kloehn M, Schrader J, Blanco EV, Urlaub D, Watzl C, Hoffmann M, Poehlmann S, Tenbusch M, Steinmann E, Todt D, Hagenbeck C, Zimmer G, Schmidt WE, Quast DR, Babel N, Schmitz I, Pfaender S (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Frontiers in Immunology Frontiers Research Foundation / Frontiers Media

Book Volume: 13

DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1062210

Abstract

With the emergence of novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Variants of Concern (VOCs), vaccination studies that elucidate the efficiency and effectiveness of a vaccination campaign are critical to assess the durability and the protective immunity provided by vaccines. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been found to induce robust humoral and cell-mediated immunity in individuals vaccinated with homologous vaccination regimens. Recent studies also suggest improved immune response against SARS-CoV-2 when heterologous vaccination strategies are employed. Yet, few data exist on the extent to which heterologous prime-boost-boost vaccinations with two different vaccine platforms have an impact on the T cell-mediated immune responses with a special emphasis on the currently dominantly circulating Omicron strain. In this study, we collected serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 57 study participants of median 35-year old's working in the health care field, who have received different vaccination regimens. Neutralization assays revealed robust but decreased neutralization of Omicron VOC, including BA.1 and BA.4/5, compared to WT SARS-CoV-2 in all vaccine groups and increased WT SARS-CoV-2 binding and neutralizing antibodies titers in homologous mRNA prime-boost-boost study participants. By investigating cytokine production, we found that homologous and heterologous prime-boost-boost-vaccination induces a robust cytokine response of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Collectively, our results indicate robust humoral and T cell mediated immunity against Omicron in homologous and heterologous prime-boost-boost vaccinated study participants, which might serve as a guide for policy decisions.

Authors with CRIS profile

Matthias Tenbusch Professur für Genbasierte Immunisierungsverfahren

Involved external institutions

Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) DE Germany (DE) Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin DE Germany (DE) Technische Universität Dortmund DE Germany (DE) Deutsches Primatenzentrum (DPZ), Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung DE Germany (DE) Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf DE Germany (DE) Universität Bern CH Switzerland (CH)

How to cite

APA:

Heinen, N., Marheinecke, C.S., Bessen, C., Blazquez-Navarro, A., Roch, T., Stervbo, U.,... Pfaender, S. (2022). In-depth analysis of T cell immunity and antibody responses in heterologous prime-boost-boost vaccine regimens against SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant. Frontiers in Immunology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1062210

MLA:

Heinen, Natalie, et al. "In-depth analysis of T cell immunity and antibody responses in heterologous prime-boost-boost vaccine regimens against SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant." Frontiers in Immunology 13 (2022).

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