The effect of the third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine on anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody levels in healthcare workers with and without COVID-19 infection.

AIM: A third (booster) dose of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine became necessary due to the observed decrease in anti-SARS-CoV-2S antibody levels over time, new mutations, and low global vaccination rates. In this study, anti-SARS-CoV-2S antibody levels were measured (ECLIA assay) in 50 healthcare workers with and without a history of COVID-19 infection to determine the humoral immune response to the third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine. METHODS: Antibody levels were determined in the blood serum, and blood was sampled for analysis 20-40 days after the administration of the booster dose. RESULTS: A greater increase in anti-SARS-CoV-2S antibody titers was noted in persons without a history of infection, but antibody levels continued to be higher in previously infected individuals when the results were adjusted for age, gender, BMI, type of work, and presence of comorbidities. CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be used to improve the vaccination strategy for the general population.KEY MESSAGESThree doses of the vaccine BNT162b2 strongly stimulate the immune system to produce anti-SARS-CoV-2s antibodies, especially in people with a previous infection COVID-19.Age, gender, and BMI may be associated with different humoral immune response to the BNT162b2 vaccine.

SARS-CoV-2-Spike Antibody and T-Cell Responses Elicited by a Homologous Third mRNA COVID-19 Dose in Hemodialysis and Kidney Transplant Recipients.

The effect of a third vaccine dose (3D) of homologous mRNA vaccine on blood levels of SARS-CoV-2-receptor binding domain (RBD)-total antibodies was assessed in 40 hemodialysis patients (HD) and 21 kidney transplant recipients (KTR) at a median of 46 days after 3D. Anti-RBD antibodies were detected in 39/40 HD and 19/21 KTR. Overall, 3D boosted anti-RBD antibody levels (median: 58-fold increase). Neutralizing antibodies (NtAb) against the Wuhan-Hu-1, Delta, and Omicron variants were detected in 14, 13, and 11 out of 14 HD patients, and in 5, 5, and 4 out of 8 KTR patients, respectively. The median fold increase in NtAb titers in HD patients was 77, 28, and 5 and 56, 37, and 9 in KTR patients for each respective variant. SARS-CoV-2-S S-IFN-γ-producing CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses were detected in the majority of HD (35 and 36/37, respectively) and all KTR (16/16) patients at 3D. Overall, the administration of 3D boosted T-cell levels in both population groups. In conclusion, a homologous mRNA COVID-19 vaccine 3D exerts a booster effect on anti-RBD antibodies, NtAb binding to Wuhan-Hu-1, Delta, and Omicron variants, and SARS-CoV-2-S-IFN-γ-producing T cells in both HD and KTR patients. The magnitude of the effect was more marked in HD than KTR patients.

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2-Spike-reactive antibody and T-cell responses in chronic kidney disease patients within 3 months after COVID-19 full vaccination.

Background: Little is known regarding the dynamics of antibody and T-cell responses in chronic kidney disease (CKD) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. Methods: Prospective observational cohort study including 144 participants on haemodialysis (HD) (n = 52) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) (n = 14), those undergoing kidney transplantation (KT) (n = 30) or those with advanced CKD (ACKD) not on dialysis and healthy controls (n = 18). Anti-Spike (S) antibody and T-cell responses were assessed at 15 days (15D) and 3 months (3M) after complete vaccination schedule. HD, PD and KT patients received mRNA vaccines (mRNA-123 and BNT162b2). Most ACKD patients received BNT162b2 (n = 23), or Ad26.COV.2.S (4). Most controls received BNT162b2 (n = 12), or Ad26.COV.2.S (n = 5). Results: Anti-S antibodies at 15D and 3M were detectable in 95% (48/50)/98% (49/50) of HD patients, 93% (13/14)/100% of PD patients, 67% (17/26)/75% (21/28) of KT patients and 96% (25/26)/100% (24/24) of ACKD patients. Rates for healthy controls were 81% (13/16)/100% (17/17). Previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2-S) infection was documented in four (7.7%) HD patients, two (14.3%) PD patients, two (6.7%) KT patients, one (5.55%) healthy control and in no ACKD patient. Antibody levels decreased at 3M in HD (P = .04), PD (P = .008) and ACKD patients (P = .0009). In KT patients, levels increased (P = .04) between 15D and 3M, although they were low at both time points.T-cell responses were detected in HD patients in 37 (80%) at baseline, 35 (70%) at 15D and 41 (91%) at 3M. In PD patients, T-cell responses appeared in 8 (67%) at baseline, 13 (93%) at 15D and 9 (100%) at 3M. In KT patients, T-cell responses were detected in 12 (41%) at baseline, 22 (84%) at 15D and 25 (96%) at 3M. In ACKD patients, T-cell responses were detected in 13 (46%) at baseline, 20 (80%) at 15D and 17 (89%) at 3M. None of healthy controls showed T-cell response at baseline, 10 (67%) at 15D and 8 (89%) at 3M. Conclusions: Most HD, PD and ACKD patients develop SARS-CoV-2-S antibody responses comparable to that of healthy controls, in contrast to KT recipients. Antibody waning at 3M was faster in HD, PD and ACKD patients. No differences in SARS-CoV-2 T-cell immunity responses were noticed across study groups.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Adaptive Immunity in Nursing Home Residents Following a Third Dose of the Comirnaty Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine.

A third Comirnaty vaccine dose increased severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor-binding domain antibody levels (median, 93-fold) and neutralizing antibody titers against Wuhan-Hu-1 (median, 57-fold), Beta (me 22-fold), Delta, (median, 43-fold), and Omicron (median, 8-fold) variants, but had less impact on S-reactive T-cell immunity in nursing home residents.

Clinical Course of COVID-19 Disease in Children Treated With Neoplastic Diseases in Hungary.

We report on children with cancer in Hungary suffering from COVID-19, surveying a 13-months-long period of time. We performed a retrospective clinical trial studying the medical documentation of children treated in seven centers of the Hungarian Pediatric Oncology-Hematology Group. About 10% of children admitted to tertiary hemato-oncological centers for anti-neoplastic treatment or diagnosis for de novo malignancies were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nearly two-thirds of the infected patients were asymptomatic or had only mild symptoms but showed seropositivity by 1-4.5 months after positive PCR. One third of the SARS-CoV-2-positive children were hospitalized due to symptomatic COVID-19. Five children required antiviral treatment with remdesivir. One child was referred to the intensive care unit, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Delay in the scheduled anti-cancer treatment did not exceed 2 weeks in the majority (89%) of cases. There was only one patient requiring treatment deferral longer than a month. There was no COVID-19-related death in patients under 18 years of age, and nor was multisystem inflammatory syndrome diagnosed. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 infection did not represent an untoward risk factor among children with cancer in Hungary.

SARS-CoV-2 adaptive immunity in nursing home residents up to eight months after two doses of the Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine.

Burgos JS (General Directorate of Research and Healthcare Supervision, Department of Health, Valencia Government, Valencia, Spain); Meneu de Guillerna R (Vice-President Foundation Research Institute in Public Services, Valencia, Spain); Vanaclocha Luna H (General Directorate of Public Health, Department of Health, Valencia Government, Valencia, Spain); Burks DJ (The Prince Felipe Research Center-CIPF-, Valencia, Spain; Cervantes A (INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain); Comas I (Biomedicine Institute of Valencia, Spanish Research Council (CSIC); Díez-Domingo J (Foundation for the promotion of health and biomedical research of the Valencian Community-FISABIO-, Valencia, Spain); Peiro S (Foundation for the promotion of health and biomedical research of the Valencian Community-FISABIO-, Valencia, Spain); González-Candelas F (CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health, Spain; Joint Research Unit "Infection and Public Health" FISABIO-University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC-University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain); Ferrer Albiach C (Fundación Hospital Provincial de Castelló); Hernández-Aguado I (University Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain); Oliver Ramírez N (DataPop Alliance); Sánchez-Payá J (Preventive Medicine Service, Alicante General and University Hospital, Alicante, Spain; Alicante Institute of Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain; Vento Torres M (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe); Zapater Latorre E (Fundación Hospital General Universitario de València); Navarro D (Microbiology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain;Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain).

Assessment of Post-Vaccination Antibody Response Eight Months after the Administration of BNT1622b2 Vaccine to Healthcare Workers with Particular Emphasis on the Impact of Previous COVID-19 Infection.

At the end of 2020, COVID-19 vaccination programs were initiated in many countries, including Poland. The first vaccine approved in Poland was the BNT162b2 mRNA preparation (Pfizer/BioNTech), and the first vaccinated group were healthcare workers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate post-vaccine antibody titers 8 months after the second vaccine dose had been administered to a group of employees of the Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Olsztyn (Poland). The employees were divided into two groups: persons who had COVID-19 in the fourth quarter of 2020 and were vaccinated in January-February 2021, and persons without a history of COVID-19 who were vaccinated during the same period. The analyzed material was venous blood serum collected from 100 hospital employees on 23-28 September 2021. The level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibodies was measured with a Roche Cobas e411 analyzer using the electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) method. The study demonstrated that persons with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection had significantly higher antibody levels (taking into account gender, age, type of work performed, and severity of post-vaccination symptoms) than employees without a history of COVID-19. The study also revealed that the type of work, age, gender, and the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection can influence the humoral immune response. The presented results may prove helpful in the context of administering additional vaccine doses.

Immunological response against SARS-CoV-2 following full-dose administration of Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine in nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: The current study was aimed at examining SARS-CoV-2 immune responses following two doses of Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine among elderly people in nursing homes. METHODS: A prospective cohort study in a representative sample from nursing homes in Valencia (n = 881; males: 271, females 610; median age, 86 years) recruited residents using a random one-stage cluster sampling approach. A lateral flow immunochromatography device (LFIC) (OnSite COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test; CTK BIOTECH, Poway, CA, USA) was used as the front-line test for detecting SARS-CoV-2-Spike (S)-specific antibodies in whole blood obtained using a fingerstick. Residents returning negative LFIC results underwent venipuncture and testing for presence of SARS-CoV-2-S-reactive antibodies and T cells using the Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S (Roche Diagnostics, Pleasanton, CA, USA), the LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 TrimericS IgG assay (Diasorin S.p.A, Saluggia, Italy) and by flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: The SARS-CoV-2-S antibody detection rate in nursing home residents was 99.6% (283/284) and 98.3% (587/597) for SARS-CoV-2 recovered and naïve residents, respectively, within a median of 99 days (range 17-125 days) after full vaccination. Three out of five residents lacking SARS-CoV-2-S antibodies had detectable S-reactive CD8+ and/or CD4+ T cells. In addition, 50/50 and 40/50 participants with detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies also had SARS-CoV-2-S-reactive interferon-γ-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, respectively. DISCUSSION: The Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine is highly immunogenic in nursing home residents.

B- and T-cell immune responses elicited by the Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine in nursing-home residents.

OBJECTIVES: The immunogenicity of the Comirnaty® vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not been adequately studied in elderly people with comorbidities. We assessed antibody and T-cell responses targeted to the S protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following full vaccination in nursing-home residents. METHODS: Sixty nursing-home residents (44 female, age 53-100 years), of whom ten had previously been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 18 healthy controls (15 female, age 27-54 years) were recruited. Pre- and post-vaccination blood specimens were available for quantification of total antibodies binding the SARS-CoV-2 S protein and for enumeration of SARS-CoV-2 S-reactive IFN-γ CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The seroconversion rate in (presumably) SARS-CoV-2-naïve nursing-home residents (41/43, 95.3%) was similar to that in controls (17/18, 94.4%). A booster effect was documented in post-vaccination samples of nursing-home residents with prior COVID-19. Plasma antibody levels were higher (p < 0.01) in recovered nursing-home residents (all 2500 IU/mL) than in individuals across the other two groups (median 1120 IU/mL in naïve nursing-home residents and 2211 IU/ml in controls). A large percentage of nursing-home residents had SARS-CoV-2 S-reactive IFN-γ CD8+ (naïve 31/49, 63.2%; recovered 8/10, 80%) or CD4+ T cells (naïve 35/49, 71.4%; recovered 7/10, 70%) at baseline, in contrast to healthy controls (3/17, 17.6% and 5/17, 29%, respectively). SARS-CoV-2 IFN-γ CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses were documented in 88% (15/17) and all control subjects after vaccination, respectively, but only in 65.5% (38/58) and 22.4% (13/58) of nursing-home residents. Overall, the median frequency of SARS-CoV-2 IFN-γ CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in nursing-home residents decreased in post-vaccination specimens, whereas it increased in controls. CONCLUSION: The Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine elicits robust SARS-CoV-2 S antibody responses in nursing-home residents. Nevertheless, the rate and frequency of detectable SARS-CoV-2 IFN-γ T-cell responses after vaccination was lower in nursing-home residents than in controls.