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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Jan 1;37(1):105-112.
doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000003414. Epub 2022 Oct 21.

T-cell responses induced by ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine to wild-type severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 among people with and without HIV in South Africa

William C McMahon  1   2 , Gaurav Kwatra  1   3   4 , Alane Izu  1   3 , Anthonet L Koen  1 , Johann Greffrath  1 , Lee Fairlie  5 , Faeezah Patel  5   6 , Christian K Mukendi  1 , Nkululeko J Mbele  1 , Rushil Lala  1 , Wendy A Burgers  7 , Marta C Nunes  1   2 , Clare L Cutland  3 , Sarah C Gilbert  8 , Teresa Lambe  9 , Andrew J Pollard  9 , Shabir A Madhi  1   3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

T-cell responses induced by ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine to wild-type severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 among people with and without HIV in South Africa

William C McMahon et al. AIDS. .

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific T-cell responses 14 days after single-dose ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccination in black Africans with and without HIV in South Africa, as well as determine the effect of AZD1222 vaccination on cell-mediated immune responses in people with HIV (PWH) with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: A total of 70 HIV-uninfected people and 104 PWH were prospectively enrolled in the multicentre, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase Ib/IIa trial (COV005). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from trial participants 14 days after receipt of first dose of study treatment (placebo or AZD1222 vaccine). T-cell responses against the full-length spike (FLS) glycoprotein of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and mutated S-protein regions found in the Alpha, Beta and Delta variants were assessed using an ex-vivo ELISpot assay.

Results: Among AZD1222 recipients without preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection, T-cell responses to FLS of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 were similarly common in PWH and HIV-uninfected people (30/33, 90.9% vs. 16/21, 76.2%; P = 0.138); and magnitude of response was similar among responders (78 vs. 56 SFCs/106 PBMCs; P = 0.255). Among PWH, AZD1222 vaccinees with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, displayed a heightened T-cell response magnitude compared with those without prior infection (186 vs. 78 SFCs/106 PBMCs; P = 0.001); and similar response rate (14/14, 100% vs. 30/33, 90.9%; P = 0.244).

Conclusion: Our results indicate comparable T-cell responses following AZD1222 vaccination in HIV-uninfected people and PWH on stable antiretroviral therapy. Our results additionally show that hybrid immunity acquired through SARS-CoV-2 infection and AZD1222 vaccination, induce a heightened T-cell response.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NTC04444674.

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References

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