OX40 agonist stimulation increases and sustains humoral and cell-mediated responses to SARS-CoV-2 protein and saRNA vaccines (original) (raw)

Booster dose of mRNA vaccine augments waning T cell and antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2

Frontiers in Immunology

A gradual decay in humoral and cellular immune responses over time upon SAR1S-CoV-2 vaccination may cause a lack of protective immunity. We conducted a longitudinal analysis of antibodies, T cells, and monocytes in 25 participants vaccinated with mRNA or ChAdOx1-S up to 12 weeks after the 3rd (booster) dose with mRNA vaccine. We observed a substantial increase in antibodies and CD8 T cells specific for the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination. Moreover, vaccination induced activated T cells expressing CD69, CD137 and producing IFN-γ and TNF-α. Virus-specific CD8 T cells showed predominantly memory phenotype. Although the level of antibodies and frequency of virus-specific T cells reduced 4-6 months after the 2nd dose, they were augmented after the 3rd dose followed by a decrease later. Importantly, T cells generated after the 3rd vaccination were also reactive against Omicron variant, indicated by a similar level of IFN-γ production after stimulation with Omicron peptides. ...

Targeting SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain to cells expressing CD40 improves protection to infection in convalescent macaques

Nature Communications

Achieving sufficient worldwide vaccination coverage against SARS-CoV-2 will require additional approaches to currently approved viral vector and mRNA vaccines. Subunit vaccines may have distinct advantages when immunizing vulnerable individuals, children and pregnant women. Here, we present a new generation of subunit vaccines targeting viral antigens to CD40-expressing antigen-presenting cells. We demonstrate that targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to CD40 (αCD40.RBD) induces significant levels of specific T and B cells, with long-term memory phenotypes, in a humanized mouse model. Additionally, we demonstrate that a single dose of the αCD40.RBD vaccine, injected without adjuvant, is sufficient to boost a rapid increase in neutralizing antibodies in convalescent non-human primates (NHPs) exposed six months previously to SARS-CoV-2. Vaccine-elicited antibodies cross-neutralize different SARS-CoV-2 variants, including D614G, B1.1.7 and to a le...

DNA Based Vaccine Expressing SARS-CoV-2 Spike-CD40L Fusion Protein Confers Protection Against Challenge in a Syrian Hamster Model

Frontiers in Immunology, 2022

SARS-CoV-2 infections present a tremendous threat to public health. Safe and efficacious vaccines are the most effective means in preventing the infections. A variety of vaccines have demonstrated excellent efficacy and safety around the globe. Yet, development of alternative forms of vaccines remains beneficial, particularly those with simpler production processes, less stringent storage conditions, and the capability of being used in heterologous prime/boost regimens which have shown improved efficacy against many diseases. Here we reported a novel DNA vaccine comprised of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein fused with CD40 ligand (CD40L) serving as both a targeting ligand and molecular adjuvant. A single intramuscular injection in Syrian hamsters induced significant neutralizing antibodies 3-weeks after vaccination, with a boost substantially improving immune responses. Moreover, the vaccine also reduced weight loss and suppressed viral replication in the lungs and nasal turbinates of c...

Humoral and cellular response induced by a second booster of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in adults

SummaryThe SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has challenged the control of the COVID-19 pandemic even in highly vaccinated countries. While a second booster of mRNA vaccines improved the immunity against SARS-CoV-2, the humoral and cellular responses induced by a second booster of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine have not been studied. In the context of a phase 3 clinical study, we report that a second booster of CoronaVac® increased the neutralizing response against the ancestral virus yet showed poor neutralization against the Omicron variant. Additionally, isolated PBMCs displayed equivalent activation of specific CD4+ T cells and IFN-γ production when stimulated with a mega-pool of peptides derived from the spike protein of the ancestral virus or the Omicron variant. In conclusion, a second booster dose of CoronaVac® does not improve the neutralizing response against the Omicron variant compared with the first booster dose, yet it helps maintaining a robust spike-specific CD4+ T cell ...

Reactogenicity, Safety, and Serological and Cellular Immunogenicity of a Booster Dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Prototype, Variant, and Bivalent Vaccines

Research Square (Research Square), 2022

Waning immunity after two SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations and the emergence of variants precipitated the need for booster doses. We evaluated safety and serological and cellular immunogenicity through 6 months after a third mRNA vaccination in adults who received the mRNA-1273 primary series in the Phase 1 trial approximately 9 to 10 months earlier. The booster vaccine formulations included 100 mcg of mRNA-1273, 50 mcg of mRNA-1273.351 that encodes Beta variant spike protein, and bivalent vaccine of 25 mcg each of mRNA-1273 and mRNA-1273.351. A third dose of mRNA vaccine appeared safe with acceptable reactogenicity. Vaccination induced rapid increases in binding and neutralizing antibody titers to D614G, Beta, Delta and Omicron variants that persisted through 6 months post-boost, particularly after administration of Beta-containing vaccines. Spike-speci c CD4 + and CD8 + T cells increased to levels similar to those following the second dose. Boost vaccination induced broad and durable humoral and T cell responses.

Immunological Mechanisms of Vaccine-Induced Protection against SARS-CoV-2 in Humans

Immuno

The SARS-CoV-2 infection spread rapidly throughout the world and appears to involve in both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. SARS-CoV-2 is attached to host cells via binding to the viral spike (S) proteins and its cellular receptors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Consequently, the S protein is primed with serine proteases TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS4, which facilitate the fusion of viral and cellular membranes result in the entry of viral RNA into the host cell. Vaccines are urgently required to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and aid in the recovery to pre-pandemic levels of normality. The long-term protective immunity is provided by the vaccine antigen (or pathogen)-specific immune effectors and the activation of immune memory cells that can be efficiently and rapidly reactivated upon pathogen exposure. Research efforts aimed towards the design and development of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 are increasing. Numerous coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine...

Cellular and Humoral Responses Follow-up for 8 Months after Vaccination with mRNA-Based Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines

Biomedicines

Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has become the main method of reducing mortality and severity of COVID-19. This work aims to study the evolution of the cellular and humoral responses conferred by two mRNA vaccines after two doses against SARS-CoV-2. On days 30 and 240 after the second dose of both vaccines, the anti-S antibodies in plasma were evaluated from 82 volunteers vaccinated with BNT162b2 and 68 vaccinated with mRNA-1273. Peripheral blood was stimulated with peptides encompassing the entire SARS-CoV-2 Spike sequence. IgG Anti-S antibodies (humoral) were quantified on plasma, and inflammatory cytokines (cellular) were measured after stimulation. We observed a higher response (both humoral and cellular) with the mRNA-1273 vaccine. Stratifying by age and gender, differences between vaccines were observed, especially in women under 48 and men over 48 years old. Therefore, this work could help to set up a vaccination strategy that could be applied to confer maximum immunity.

Immunogenicity of a receptor-binding domain of SARS coronavirus spike protein in mice: Implications for a subunit vaccine

Vaccine, 2007

We studied the immunogenicity of an anti-SARS subunit vaccine comprised of the fragment of the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) spike protein amino acids 318-510 (S318-510) containing the receptor-binding domain. The S protein fragment was purified from the culture supernatant of stably transformed HEK293T cells secreting a tagged version of the protein. The vaccine was given subcutaneously to 129S6/SvEv mice in saline, with alum adjuvant or with alum plus CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). Mice immunized with the adjuvanted antigen elicited strong antibody and cellular immune responses; furthermore, adding the CpG ODN to the alum resulted in increased IgG2a antibody titers and a higher number of INF-␥-secreting murine splenocytes. Mice vaccinated with S318-510 deglycosylated by PNGase F (dgS318-510) showed a lower neutralizing antibody response but had similar numbers of INF-␥-producing cells in the spleen. This finding suggests that carbohydrate is important for the immunogenicity of the S318-510 protein fragment and provide useful information for designing an effective and safe SARS subunit vaccine.

Early insight into antibody-dependent enhancement after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 2021

Current vaccines, which induce a B-cell-mediated antibody response against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, have markedly reduced infection rates. However, the emergence of new variants as a result of SARS-CoV-2 evolution requires the development of novel vaccines that are T-cell-based and that target mutant-specific spike proteins along with ORF1ab or nucleocapsid protein. This approach is more accommodative in inducing highly neutralizing antibodies, without the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement, as well as memory CD8 + T-cell immunity.

Induction of High Levels of Specific Humoral and Cellular Responses to SARS-CoV-2 After the Administration of Covid-19 mRNA Vaccines Requires Several Days

Frontiers in Immunology, 2021

ObjectivesIn the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the fast development of vaccines with efficacy of around 95% preventing Covid-19 illness provides a unique opportunity to reduce the mortality associated with the pandemic. However, in the absence of efficacious prophylactic medications and few treatments for this infection, the induction of a fast and robust protective immunity is required for effective disease control, not only to prevent the disease but also the infection and shedding/transmission. The objective of our study was to analyze the level of specific humoral and cellular T-cell responses against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 induced by two mRNA-based vaccines (BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273), but also how long it takes after vaccination to induce these protective humoral and cellular immune responses.MethodsWe studied in 40 healthy (not previously infected) volunteers vaccinated with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccines the presence of spike-specific IgG antibodies and SARS-CoV-2-...