SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Neutralization after Third Dose Vaccination in PLWH

Viruses. 2022 Aug 3;14(8):1710. doi: 10.3390/v14081710.

Abstract

The aim was to measure neutralizing antibody levels against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (BA.1) variant in serum samples obtained from vaccinated PLWH and healthcare workers (HCW) and compare them with those against the Wuhan-D614G (W-D614G) strain, before and after the third dose of a mRNA vaccine. We included 106 PLWH and 28 HCWs, for a total of 134 participants. Before the third dose, the proportion of participants with undetectable nAbsT against BA.1 was 88% in the PLWH low CD4 nadir group, 80% in the high nadir group and 100% in the HCW. Before the third dose, the proportion of participants with detectable nAbsT against BA.1 was 12% in the PLWH low nadir group, 20% in the high nadir group and 0% in HCW, respectively. After 2 weeks from the third dose, 89% of the PLWH in the low nadir group, 100% in the high nadir group and 96% of HCW elicited detectable nAbsT against BA.1. After the third dose, the mean log2 nAbsT against BA.1 in the HCW and PLWH with a high nadir group was lower than that seen against W-D614G (6.1 log2 (±1.8) vs. 7.9 (±1.1) and 6.4 (±1.3) vs. 8.6 (±0.8)), respectively. We found no evidence of a different level of nAbsT neutralization by BA.1 vs. W-D614G between PLWH with a high CD4 nadir and HCW (0.40 (−1.64, 2.43); p = 0.703). Interestingly, in PLWH with a low CD4 nadir, the mean log2 difference between nAbsT against BA.1 and W-D614G was smaller in those with current CD4 counts 201−500 vs. those with CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3 (−0.80 (−1.52, −0.08); p = 0.029), suggesting that in this target population with a low CD4 nadir, current CD4 count might play a role in diversifying the level of SARS-CoV-2 neutralization.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; Omicron variant; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 vaccine; neutralization titers; third dose vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2* / genetics
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • mRNA Vaccines

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • mRNA Vaccines

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants

Grants and funding

The study was performed in the framework of the SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and response program implemented by the Lazio Region Health Authority. This study was supported by funds to the Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, Rome (Italy) from Ministero della Salute (Programma CCM 2020; Ricerca Corrente—Linea 1 e Linea 2; COVID-2020-12371675). EuCARE project funded by the EU under the HORIZON Europe programme, GA n. 6944397 received by Alessandro Cozzi Lepri, University College of London.