Immunogenicity and safety of an inactivated SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine in people living with HIV: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

We aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in people living with HIV (PLWH). A total of 143 PLWH and 50 healthy individuals were included in this study. A commercially available magnetic chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay kit was used to detect serum IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Serum levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG were significantly higher in the control group than in the PLWH group (p = 0.001). Overall, 76% of individuals in the control group were detected with seropositivity IgG against SARS-CoV-2 compared to 58% in the PLWH group (p = 0.024). In PLWH with IgG seropositivity, CD4+ T-cell counts before antiretroviral therapy (ART) was higher (p = 0.015). Multivariable analysis indicated that CD4+ T cells at IgG detection (odds ratio[OR] = 1.004, p = 0.006) and time after vaccination (OR = 0.977, p = 0.014) were independently associated with seropositivity IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in PLWH.Neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers in PLWH against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 were similar to those in the control group (p = 0.160). The proportion of seropositive nAbs against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 was also similar (95% in the control group vs. 97% in the PLWH group, p = 0.665). Similar results were obtained when nAb was detected against the delta variants with similar titers (p = 0.355) and a similar proportion of seropositive nAbs were observed (p = 0.588). All the side effects observed in our study were mild and self-limiting. The inactivated COVID-19 vaccine appears to be safe with good immunogenicity in Chinese PLWH.

Immunologic Interplay Between HIV/AIDS and COVID-19: Adding Fuel to the Flames?

“…[ 110 •] BBIBP-CorV (2 doses) Open-label two-arm non-randomized study (China) 42 PLWH: 29 males, 13 females; mean age: 42.7 years 28 HIV-negative controls: 16 males, 12 females; mean age: 37.8 years Mean CD4 + T-cell count: 659/µL (SD: 222) All PLWH on cART Plasma HIV-RNA: - > 20 copies/mL: n = 12 - < 20 copies/mL: n = 8 - undetectable: n = 22 Participants with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection excluded Anti-RBD Ig (ELISA) Neutralizing antibody activity (chemiluminescent reaction; spike-ACE2 binding inhibition assay) SARS-CoV-2–specific T-cells (ICS by flow cytometry after stimulation of PBMCs with spike peptide pool) Time-points: baseline; 4 weeks after first dose; 4 weeks after second dose Similar anti-RBD Ig, neutralization activity and T-cell responses between PLWH and HIV-negative controls Lower humoral responses in PLWH with low CD4/CD8 ratio compared to PLWH with medium or high ratio Cai, et al . [ 132 ] BBIBP-CorV or CoronaVac (2 doses) Single-centre cross-sectional study (China) 143 PLWH: 140 (97.9%) males, 3 (2.1%) females; mean age 32.55 years (SD: 8.69) 50 HIV-negative controls: 48 (96%) males, 2 (4%) females; mean age: 29.84 (SD: 8.51) Mean CD4 + T-cell count: 398.96/µL (SD: 202.31) 116 (81.1%) PLWH on cART Individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection included Anti-RDB IgG, anti-N IgM (magnetic chemiluminescence enzyme assay) Neutralizing antibody activity (live virus neutralization assay) Time-points: 64.46 ± 41.22 or 35.78 ± 27.99 days after vaccination in HIV-negative controls and PLWH, respectively Anti-RBD IgG levels lower in PLWH than HIV-negative controls Positive correlation between anti-RBD IgG and CD4 + T-cell counts Anti-N IgM levels and neutralization ability against WT and Delta variant similar between groups Zeng, et al . [ 112 ] BBIBP-CorV or CoronaVac (2 doses) Longitudinal study (China) 132 PLWH: 119 (90.2%) males, 13 (9.8%) females; mean age: 34.05 years (SD: 8.37) 130 HIV-negative controls: 115 (88.5%) males, 15 (11.5%) females; mean age: 34.4 years (SD: 8.9) CD4 + T-cell count strata: - 200–349/µL: 14.4% - 350–499/µL: 26.5% - ≥ 500/µL: 49.2% cART: 87.9% of PLWH under stable treatment for more than 6 months; 7.6% less than 6 months; 4.5% without treatment Plasma HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL: 90.9% Participants with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection excluded Anti-RB...…”

Dynamics of CD4+ T-Cells and Neutralizing Antibody Responses to Three Consecutive Doses of Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccines in PLWH

“…In one month after the 3rd vaccination, our results showed that the NAb seroconversion in cohort 2 was 93.9% (93/99) ( Table 6 ), which is close to the rate of PLWH vaccinated with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines (Sinopharm Inactivated Whole Virus or SinoVac Inactivated Whole Virus) in Guangzhou (97%). 23 Moreover, the gradual reductions in the NAb level and seroconversion rate of NAb were noted over time. 24 Broadly speaking, the 3rd dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine effectively induced SARS-CoV-2-specific NAb seroconversion (over 60%) in two PLWH cohorts.…”

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Induced T-Cell Response after Three Doses in People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy Compared to Seronegative Controls (CTN 328 COVAXHIV Study)

“…Previous studies have shown that PLWH on ART mount detectable cellular and humoral responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 5 ]. This is also the case for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination [ 6 , 10 , 13 ], although most of these studies have only assessed IFNγ production after one or two SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses. However, in our study, we analyzed intracellular levels and production patterns of three different cytokines in CD4 and CD8 T-cells, excluding innate immune cells.…”

“…For instance, incomplete CD4 T-cell restoration and low CD4:CD8 ratios may impede the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune responses following vaccination and infection, especially before booster vaccination [ 5 , 6 , 8 ]. Although we have recently shown that SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced humoral responses in PLWH on ART are not significantly different from HIV seronegative individuals [ 9 ], fewer studies have compared vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell immunity between PLWH and HIV seronegative individuals [ 6 , 10 , 11 ], of which only one has assessed responses after the 3rd dose [ 11 ]. Herein, we longitudinally assessed SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses and changes in T-cell subset distributions in PLWH and HIV seronegative persons without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, up to one month following the third SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose.…”