Helminth infection modulates the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in mice without compromising protective efficacy
Su J, Hamway Y, Mistretta D, Liao BH, Ma Z, Schluckebier J, Xie Z, Polezhaeva O, Jradi W, Braun S, Robb J, Main LF, Mukherjee P, Jubran-Rudolf L, Steiger K, Pino P, Tenbusch M, D'Ippolito E, Ebert G, Protzer U, Prazeres da Costa C (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 17
Pages Range: 1827532-
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1827532
Abstract
Objectives: Helminth parasites infect over a quarter of the global population and can profoundly modulate host immunity, potentially influencing vaccine performance and the spread of pandemic pathogens such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Despite the high global endemicity of helminth infections, their impact on immune responses to various COVID-19 vaccines remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Schistosoma infection on the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of messenger RNA (mRNA)- and protein-based COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: Mice with Schistosoma infection and non-infected controls were immunized with either an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine or an alum-adjuvanted spike protein vaccine. Vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immune responses were assessed, and protective efficacy was evaluated using a SARS-CoV-2 challenge model. Results: COVID-19 mRNA vaccination induced strong spike-specific antibody and CD4 T-cell responses in Schistosoma-infected mice comparable to non-infected controls, despite a Th2/regulatory-biased immune environment, although multifunctional CD8 T-cell responses were reduced. Alum-adjuvanted protein vaccination elicited robust humoral but weaker cellular immunity, with comparable immune responses in infected and non-infected mice. Following SARS-CoV-2 challenge, both vaccine platforms conferred effective protection, with substantial viral clearance and minimal lung pathology. Conclusions: mRNA and protein vaccines elicit distinct immune profiles; however, both protect effectively against SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice with concurrent helminth infection.
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Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Su, J., Hamway, Y., Mistretta, D., Liao, B.H., Ma, Z., Schluckebier, J.,... Prazeres da Costa, C. (2026). Helminth infection modulates the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in mice without compromising protective efficacy. Frontiers in Immunology, 17, 1827532-. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1827532
MLA:
Su, Jinpeng, et al. "Helminth infection modulates the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in mice without compromising protective efficacy." Frontiers in Immunology 17 (2026): 1827532-.
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