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BNT162b2, an mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech), is one of the most effective COVID-19 vaccines and has been approved by more than 130 countries worldwide. However, several studies have reported that the COVID-19 vaccine shows high interpersonal variability in terms of humoral and cellular responses, such as those with respect to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, IgM, neutralizing antibodies, and CD4+ & CD8+ T cells. The objective of this study is to investigate the kinetic changes in anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG (IgG-S) profiles and adverse reactions and their associations with HLA profiles among 100 hospital workers from the Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM), Tokyo, Japan. DQA1*03:03:01 (P = 0.017; Odd ratio (OR) 2.80, 95%Confidence interval (CI) 1.05-7.25) was significantly associated with higher IgG-S production after two doses of BNT162b2 while DQB1*06:01:01:01 (P = 0.028, OR 0.27, 95%CI 0.05-0.94) was significantly associated with IgG-S declines after two doses of BNT162b2. No HLA alleles were significantly associated with either local symptoms or fever. However, C*12:02:02 (P = 0.058; OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.15-1.16), B*52:01:01 (P = 0.031; OR 0.38, 95%CI 0.14-1.03), DQA1*03:02:01 (P = 0.028; OR 0.39, 95%CI 0.15-1.00) and DPB1*02:01:02 (P = 0.024; OR 0.45, 95%CI 0.21-0.97) appeared significantly associated with protection against systemic symptoms after two doses of BNT162b2 vaccination. Further studies with larger sample sizes are clearly warranted to determine HLA allele associations with the production and long-term sustainability of IgG-S after COVID-19 vaccination.
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IntroductionThe humoral and cellular immune responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) upon coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination remain to be clarified. Hence, we aimed to investigate the long-term chronological changes in SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibody, neutralizing antibody, and T cell responses during and after receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine. MethodsWe performed serological, neutralization, and T cell assays among 100 hospital workers aged 22-73 years who received the vaccine. We conducted seven surveys up to eight months after the second vaccination dose. ResultsSARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific IgG (IgG-S) titers and T cell responses increased significantly following the first vaccination dose. The highest titers were observed on day 29 and decreased gradually until the end of the follow-up period. There was no correlation between IgG-S and T cell responses. Notably, T cell responses were detected on day 15, earlier than the onset of neutralizing activity. ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that both IgG-S and T cell responses were detected before acquiring sufficient levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. These immune responses are sustained for approximately six-ten weeks but not for seven months or later following the second vaccination, indicating the need for the booster dose (i.e., third vaccination).
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High vaccine reactogenicities may reflect stronger immune responses, but the epidemiological evidence for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines is sparse and inconsistent. We observed that a fever of [≥]38{square} after two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine was associated with higher severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike IgG titers.
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Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are used widely in the diagnosis of malaria. Although the effectiveness of RDTs for malaria has been described in many previous studies, the low performance of RDT particularly for <i>Plasmodium ovale</i> malaria in traveller has rarely been reported. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted on Japanese travellers diagnosed with malaria at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine between January 2004 and June 2013. The diagnosis of malaria was confirmed by microscopic examination, RDT, and polymerase chain reaction in all patients. The RDTs used in our study were Binax NOW Malaria (Binax Inc., Scarborough, Maine, USA) (BN) and SD Malaria Antigen Pf/Pan (Standard Diagnostics Inc., Korea) (SDMA). We compared the sensitivity of the RDTs to <i>P. ovale</i> malaria and <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> malaria. Results: A total of 153 cases of malaria were observed, 113 of which were found among Japanese travellers. Nine patients with <i>P. ovale</i> malaria and 17 patients with <i>P. vivax</i> malaria undergoing RDTs were evaluated. The overall sensitivity of RDTs for <i>P. ovale</i> malaria and <i>P. vivax</i> malaria was 22.2% and 94.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). The sensitivity of SDMA for <i>P. ovale</i> malaria and <i>P. vivax</i> malaria was 50% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity of BN for <i>P. vivax</i> malaria was 90.0%, but it was ineffective in detecting the cases of <i>P. ovale</i> malaria. Conclusions: The sensitivity of RDTs was not high enough to diagnose <i>P. ovale</i> malaria in our study. In order not to overlook <i>P. ovale</i> malaria, therefore, microscopic examination is indispensable.
RESUMO
Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have widely been used in the diagnosis of malaria. Although the effectiveness of RDTs for malaria has previously been described in many reports, the low performance of RDTs particularly for <i>Plasmodium ovale</i> malaria in travellers have rarely been reported. Methods: This was retrospective cohort study conducted among Japanese travellers who were diagnosed with malaria at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine between January 2004 and June 2013. Diagnosis of malaria by microscopic examination, RDT, and polymerase chain reaction were performed for all the patients. The RDTs used in our study were Binax NOW Malaria (Binax Inc., Scarborough, Maine, USA) (BN) and SD Malaria Antigen Pf/Pan (Standard Diagnostics Inc., Korea) (SDMA). We compared the sensitivity of the RDTs of <i>P. ovale</i> malaria with that of <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> malaria. Results: A total of 153 cases of malaria were observed, of which 113 patients were Japanese travellers. Nine patients with <i>P. ovale</i> malaria and 17 patients with <i>P. vivax</i> malaria performing RDTs were evaluated. The overall sensitivity of RDTs for <i>P. ovale</i> malaria was 22.2% and that for <i>P. vivax</i> malaria was 94.1% (P < 0.001). The sensitivity of SDMA for <i>P. vivax</i> malaria was 100% and that for <i>P. ovale</i> malaria was 50%. The sensitivity of BN for <i>P. vivax</i> malaria was 90.0%; however, it was unable to detect the cases of <i>P. ovale</i> malaria. Conclusions: The sensitivity of RDTs was not high enough to diagnose <i>P. ovale</i> malaria in our study. Thus, microscopic examination is indispensable not to overlook <i>P. ovale</i> malaria.
