SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Immunity Responses following Natural Infection and Vaccination

Vassiliki C. Pitiriga; Myrto Papamentzelopoulou; Kanella E. Konstantinakou; Kalliopi Theodoridou; Irene V. Vasileiou; Athanasios Tsakris

doi:10.3390/vaccines11071186

Vaccines (Jun 2023)

SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Immunity Responses following Natural Infection and Vaccination

Vassiliki C. Pitiriga,
Myrto Papamentzelopoulou,
Kanella E. Konstantinakou,
Kalliopi Theodoridou,
Irene V. Vasileiou,
Athanasios Tsakris

Affiliations

Vassiliki C. Pitiriga: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
Myrto Papamentzelopoulou: Molecular Biology Unit, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
Kanella E. Konstantinakou: Bioiatriki Healthcare Group, Kifisias 132 and Papada Street, 11526 Athens, Greece
Kalliopi Theodoridou: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
Irene V. Vasileiou: Bioiatriki Healthcare Group, Kifisias 132 and Papada Street, 11526 Athens, Greece
Athanasios Tsakris: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11071186
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 7
p. 1186

Abstract

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(1) Background: SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity is rapidly activated following SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination and is crucial for controlling infection progression and severity. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 between cohorts of subjects with hybrid immunity (convalescent and vaccinated), vaccinated naïve (non-exposed) and convalescent unvaccinated subjects. (2) Methods: We performed a retrospective descriptive analysis of data collected from the medical records of adult individuals who were consecutively examined at a large, private Medical Center of Attica from September 2021 to September 2022 in order to be examined on their own initiative for SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity response. They were divided into three groups: Group A: SARS-CoV-2 convalescent and vaccinated subjects; Group B: SARS-CoV-2 naïve vaccinated subjects; Group C: SARS-CoV-2 convalescent unvaccinated subjects. The SARS-CoV-2 T cell response was estimated against spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) structural proteins by performing the methodology T-SPOT.COVID test. (3) Results: A total of 530 subjects were retrospectively included in the study, 252 females (47.5%) and 278 (52.5%) males ranging from 13 to 92 years old (mean 55.68 ± 17.0 years). Among them, 66 (12.5%) were included in Group A, 284 (53.6%) in Group B and 180 (34.0%) in Group C. Among the three groups, a reaction against S antigen was reported in 58/66 (87.8%) of Group A, 175/284 (61.6%) of Group B and 146/180 (81.1%) of Group C (chi-square, p p = 0.841). The median SFC count for S antigen was 24 (range from 0–218) in Group A, 12 (range from 0–275) in Group B and 18 (range from 0–160) in Group C (Kruskal–Wallis test, p p p = 0.147; groups B–C, p p = 0.27 for A–C groups). (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that natural cellular immunity, either alone or combined with vaccination, confers stronger and more durable protection compared to vaccine-induced cellular immunity.

Published in Vaccines

ISSN: 2076-393X (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines

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