Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Pre-existing helminth infection impairs the efficacy of adjuvanted influenza vaccination in mice.
Hartmann, Wiebke; Brunn, Marie-Luise; Stetter, Nadine; Gabriel, Gülsah; Breloer, Minka.
  • Hartmann W; Section for Molecular Biology and Immunology, Helminth Immunology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Brunn ML; Section for Molecular Biology and Immunology, Helminth Immunology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Stetter N; Section for Molecular Biology and Immunology, Helminth Immunology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Gabriel G; Research Department for Viral Zoonoses-One Health, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Breloer M; Institute of Virology, University for Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, Germany.
PLoS One ; 17(3): e0266456, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1833658
ABSTRACT
The world health organization estimates that more than a quarter of the human population is infected with parasitic worms that are called helminths. Many helminths suppress the immune system of their hosts to prolong their survival. This helminth-induced immunosuppression "spills over" to unrelated antigens and can suppress the immune response to vaccination against other pathogens. Indeed, several human studies have reported a negative correlation between helminth infections and responses to vaccinations. Using mice that are infected with the parasitic nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis as a model for chronic human filarial infections, we reported previously that concurrent helminth infection impaired the vaccination-induced protection against the human pathogenic 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus (2009 pH1N1). Vaccinated, helminth-infected mice produced less neutralizing, influenza-specific antibodies than vaccinated naïve control mice. Consequently helminth-infected and vaccinated mice were not protected against a challenge infection with influenza virus but displayed high virus burden in the lung and a transient weight loss. In the current study we tried to improve the vaccination efficacy using vaccines that are licensed for humans. We either introduced a prime-boost vaccination regimen using the non-adjuvanted anti-influenza vaccine Begripal or employed the adjuvanted influenza vaccine Fluad. Although both strategies elevated the production of influenza-specific antibodies and protected mice from the transient weight loss that is caused by an influenza challenge infection, sterile immunity was not achieved. Helminth-infected vaccinated mice still had high virus burden in the lung while non-helminth-infected vaccinated mice rapidly cleared the virus. In summary we demonstrate that basic improvements of influenza vaccination regimen are not sufficient to confer sterile immunity on the background of helminth-induced immunosuppression, despite amelioration of pathology i.e. weight loss. Our findings highlight the risk of failed vaccinations in helminth-endemic areas, especially in light of the ongoing vaccination campaign to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Influenza A virus / Influenza Vaccines / Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Influenza, Human / Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / COVID-19 / Helminthiasis / Helminths Type of study: Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid / Vaccines Limits: Animals / Humans Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0266456

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Influenza A virus / Influenza Vaccines / Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Influenza, Human / Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / COVID-19 / Helminthiasis / Helminths Type of study: Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid / Vaccines Limits: Animals / Humans Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0266456