ABSTRACT
The comprehensive knowledge regarding the immune response during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is limited. The aim of this study was to longitudinally investigate not only the dynamic changes of peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokine levels but parallel changes of antibody levels against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Blood samples of 20 healthcare workers with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine were prospectively collected. The percentages of lymphocyte subpopulations from peripheral blood and cytokine production in lymphocytes with in vitro stimulation were assessed using eight-color flow cytometry. SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies (anti-S Abs) and functional neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) were also measured. The relation between pre- and post-vaccination immunity was analyzed. There are 7 men and 13 women with a median age of 44.0 years (range: 25.7-59.5 years). The individuals had an increased percentage of lymphocytes at post-vaccination with statistical significance post first dose (p = 0.031). The levels of transitional cells (p = 0.001), such as plasmablasts (p < 0.001) and plasma cells (p = 0.031), were increased compared with pre-vaccination. Recent thymic emigrants of CD4+ T cells subsets were significantly higher at post-vaccination than those at pre-vaccination (p = 0.029). Intracellular levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-21, transforming growth factor-beta and IL-17 produced by CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and natural killer cells were increased. All individual samples showed reactivity to anti-S Abs and the levels of nAbs were elevated after vaccination. The magnitude of adaptive immunity was associated with vaccine types and doses. Alterations of total memory B cells (p < 0.001), non-switched memory B cells (p = 0.016), and memory Treg cells (p < 0.001) were independent predictors for nAb levels. These findings might be helpful in elucidating the immune response of COVID-19 vaccination and in developing new strategies for immunization.
ABSTRACT
Hemodialysis (HD) patients are vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and have a high mortality rate. We evaluated the anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody (ACOV2S) levels in 385 HD patients before and 4 and 8 weeks after the second dose of vector-based ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. For study control, week 4 ACOV2S levels after the second vaccination dose were measured in 66 healthcare workers (HCWs). The seroconversion rate of HD patients was 98.96% 4 weeks after the second vaccination. Despite low antibody levels before the second dose (week 0), week 4 ACOV2S levels after the second vaccine dose in HD patients increased prominently and were compatible with those in HCWs (p = 0.814 for HCWs vs. HD patients). The ACOV2S levels in HD patients waned significantly 8 weeks after the second vaccination dose (p < 0.001 at week 8 vs. 4). Older age and immunosuppressant use were negative predictors, while higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were positive predictors of ACOV2S waxing after the second vaccine dose in HD patients. Higher CRP levels and platelet counts were independently associated with decreased ACOV2S waning. The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine is effective and safe for primary vaccination in HD patients and a booster dose is necessary.
Subject(s)
Antibody Formation , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/prevention & control , ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/administration & dosage , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/immunology , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/virology , Adult , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19/epidemiology , China/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Pandemics , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , COVID-19 Testing , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. , Humans , Taiwan , United StatesABSTRACT
新型冠狀病毒所引發的全球大流行，引起針對此疾病診斷所需快速且準確分子檢驗方法的大量需求。新冠病毒基因序列已被解析公佈，而針對其病毒核酸序列設計探針並以即時定量反轉錄鏈鎖反應方法進行檢測，是目前進行COVID-19確診之標準檢驗方法。為確保當疫情爆發時能快速核發大量且正確之檢驗報告，因此利用自動化分子檢驗平台搭配美國食藥局緊急授權使用之新冠檢驗試劑，執行檢驗方法效能評估。 The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has created the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic manners. The primer and probe were designed based on the published genomic sequences for accurately detected SARS-CoV-2 virus by qRT-PCR as standard mode for diagnosis. Ensure timely and accurately reporting data when handling large numbers of samples is in need. In this study we report the analytical evaluation of the commercial Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) test approved from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 using the fully automatic system.