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No neutralizing effect of pre-existing tick-borne encephalitis virus antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2: a prospective healthcare worker study.
Kohler, Philipp; Jonsdottir, Hulda R; Risch, Lorenz; Vernazza, Pietro; Ackermann-Gäumann, Rahel; Kahlert, Christian R.
  • Kohler P; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland. philipp.kohler@kssg.ch.
  • Jonsdottir HR; Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Spiez, Switzerland.
  • Risch L; Swiss National Reference Centre for Tick-Transmitted Diseases, Spiez, Switzerland.
  • Vernazza P; Department of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Ackermann-Gäumann R; Department of BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Kahlert CR; Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Buchs, Switzerland.
Sci Rep ; 11(1): 24198, 2021 12 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1585789
ABSTRACT
Certain immunizations including vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) have been suggested to confer cross-protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Within a prospective healthcare worker (HCW) cohort, we assessed the potentially protective role of anti-TBEV antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among 3352 HCW, those with ≥ 1 previous TBEV vaccination (n = 2018, 60%) showed a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion (adjusted odds ratio 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-1.0, P = 0.02). However, laboratory testing of a subgroup of 26 baseline and follow-up samples did not demonstrate any neutralizing effect of anti-TBEV antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in live-virus neutralization assay. However, we observed significantly higher anti-TBEV antibody titers in follow-up samples of participants with previous TBEV vaccination compared to baseline, both TBEV neutralizing (p = 0.001) and total IgG (P < 0.0001), irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 serostatus. Based on these data, we conclude that the observed association of previous TBEV vaccination and reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is likely due to residual confounding factors. The increase in TBEV follow-up antibody titers can be explained by natural TBEV exposure or potential non-specific immune activation upon exposure to various pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. We believe that these findings, although negative, contribute to the current knowledge on potential cross-immunity against SARS-CoV-2 from previous immunizations.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Health Personnel / Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Antibodies, Neutralizing / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 / Antibodies, Viral Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Vaccines Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Language: English Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41598-021-03685-y

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Health Personnel / Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Antibodies, Neutralizing / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 / Antibodies, Viral Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Vaccines Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Language: English Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41598-021-03685-y