Gut microbiota composition is associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immunogenicity and adverse events

Abstract

ObjectiveThe gut microbiota plays a key role in modulating host immune response. We conducted a prospective, observational study to examine gut microbiota composition in association with immune responses and adverse events in adults who have received the inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac; Sinovac) or the mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2; BioNTech; Comirnaty).DesignWe performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing in stool samples of 138 COVID-19 vaccinees (37 CoronaVac and 101 BNT162b2 vaccinees) collected at baseline and 1 month after second dose of vaccination. Immune markers were measured by SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus neutralisation test and spike receptor-binding domain IgG ELISA.ResultsWe found a significantly lower immune response in recipients of CoronaVac than BNT162b2 vaccines (p<0.05). Bifidobacterium adolescentis was persistently higher in subjects with high neutralising antibodies to CoronaVac vaccine (p=0.023) and their baseline gut microbiome was enriched in pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism (linear discriminant analysis (LDA) scores >2 and p<0.05). Neutralising antibodies in BNT162b2 vaccinees showed a positive correlation with the total abundance of bacteria with flagella and fimbriae including Roseburia faecis (p=0.028). The abundance of Prevotella copri and two Megamonas species were enriched in individuals with fewer adverse events following either of the vaccines indicating that these bacteria may play an anti-inflammatory role in host immune response (LDA scores>3 and p<0.05).ConclusionOur study has identified specific gut microbiota markers in association with improved immune response and reduced adverse events following COVID-19 vaccines. Microbiota-targeted interventions have the potential to complement effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Safety of an inactivated, whole-virion COVID-19 vaccine (CoronaVac) in people aged 60 years or older in Hong Kong: a modified self-controlled case series

“… 28 Previous studies have revealed that multimorbidity does not translate to an additional risk of adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination 29 and that the composition of the gut microbiota might contribute to differences in post-vaccination adverse event rates. 30 …”

Oral SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Recombinant Yeast Candidate Prompts Specific Antibody and Gut Microbiota Reconstruction in Mice

“…The pleiotropic effect of probiotics in fighting against influenza virus and other kinds of coronavirus have been estimated, and its role in COVID-19 is awaited from many ongoing clinical trials ( Kurian et al, 2021 ). Tun’s study has identified specific gut microbiota markers associated with improved immune response and reduced adverse events following COVID-19 vaccines ( Ng et al, 2022 ). In our study, the diversity analyses of the gut microbiome reveal that Moraxella osloensis , Roseomonas sp., and uncultured bacteria Oscillospira , Lachnospiraceae , and Nitrospira , Burkholderiaceae were the primary difference between the recombinant yeast and negative control group ( p < 0.05, Meta Stats).…”

Microbiota and COVID-19: Long-term and complex influencing factors

“…For the inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac), the enrichment of B. adolescentis and carbohydrate metabolismrelated pathways were associated with higher antibody response. For the mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2), the abundance of bacteria with flagella and fimbriae in the baseline gut microbiota was positively associated with higher antibody responses (Ng et al, 2022b). Additionally, animal experiments confirmed the potential of use the oral probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum GUANKE in enhancing the specific humoral and cellular immune responses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (Xu J. et al, 2021).…”