Characterization of Serum and Mucosal SARS-CoV-2-Antibodies in HIV-1-Infected Subjects after BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract

Only limited data are available regarding the immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in HIV-1+ patients. Therefore, we investigated the humoral immune response after BNT162b2-mRNA vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV-1+ patients on antiretroviral therapy compared to HIV-1-uninfected subjects. Serum and saliva samples were analysed by SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific IgG and IgA ELISAs and a surrogate neutralization assay. While all subjects developed anti-spike IgG and IgA and neutralizing antibodies in serum after two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, the HIV-1+ subjects displayed significantly lower neutralizing capacity and anti-spike IgA in serum compared to HIV-1-uninfected subjects. Serum levels of anti-spike IgG and neutralizing activity were significantly higher in vaccinees compared to SARS-CoV-2 convalescents irrespective of HIV-1 status. Among SARS-CoV-2 convalescents, there was no significant difference in spike-specific antibody response between HIV-1+ and uninfected subjects. In saliva, anti-spike IgG and IgA antibodies were detected both in vaccinees and convalescents, albeit at lower frequencies compared to the serum and only rarely with detectable neutralizing activity. In summary, our study demonstrates that the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine induces SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in HIV-1-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy, however, lower vaccine induced neutralization activity indicates a lower functionality of the humoral vaccine response in HIV-1+ patients.

Immunogenicity and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in people living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The selection procedure is summarized in Figure 1 . Overall, 22 studies were included for meta-analysis of seroconversion rates ( Table 1 ) ( Antinori et al, 2022 , Bergman et al, 2021 , Brumme et al, 2022 , Feng et al, 2022 , Frater et al, 2021 , Heftdal et al, 2022 , Huang et al, 2022 , Jedicke et al, 2021 , Khan et al, 2021 , Levy et al, 2021 , Lombardi et al, 2022 , Lv et al, 2022 , Madhi et al, 2021 , Madhi et al, 2022 , Netto et al, 2022 , Ogbe et al, 2022 , Rahav et al, 2021 , Schmidt et al, 2022 , Tuan et al, 2022 , Woldemeskel et al, 2021 , Zeng et al, 2022 , Zou et al, 2022 ). Tables S1 and S2 present the serological antibody titers after a first and second dose of COVID-19 vaccines, respectively.…”

Serological Response Following COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients Living with HIV: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

“…Another 14 studies were further removed for failing to report seroconversion (n = 6), cross-sectional studies (n = 5), reviews (n = 2), and failing to provide HIV-infected patients (n = 1) (Table S3). Finally, 50 studies with a total of 7160 patients living with HIV were included for our meta-analysis 11,12, , 30 studies were included for qualitative analysis of serological antibody titers (Table S4 to 6); 46 studies 11,12,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][27][28][29][30][31][32][34][35][36][37][38][39][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][58][59][60][61][62][63][64] were included for quantitative analysis of pooled seroconversion rates; 34 studies 11,…”

mRNA-based therapeutics: powerful and versatile tools to combat diseases

“…303 BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 appear to be well tolerated and induce a weaker but significant immune response in patients with immunocompromising conditions, including hemodialysis, 304 hematological disorders, 305,306 malignancy, 307,308 chronic inflammatory disease 309 and HIV infection (only BNT162b2 evaluated). 310 BNT162b2 showed weaker but significant immunogenicity in patients with autoimmune diseases, including rheumatic diseases, [311][312][313] multiple sclerosis, 311,[314][315][316] myasthenia gravis, 317 and musculoskeletal diseases. 318 Notably, mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 showed impaired immunogenicity in solid organ transplant recipients.…”