EBioMedicine (May 2023)

Humoral and cellular response induced by a second booster of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in adultsResearch in context

  • Constanza Méndez,
  • Hernán F. Peñaloza,
  • Bárbara M. Schultz,
  • Alejandro Piña-Iturbe,
  • Mariana Ríos,
  • Daniela Moreno-Tapia,
  • Patricia Pereira-Sánchez,
  • Diane Leighton,
  • Claudia Orellana,
  • Consuelo Covarrubias,
  • Nicolás M.S. Gálvez,
  • Jorge A. Soto,
  • Luisa F. Duarte,
  • Daniela Rivera-Pérez,
  • Yaneisi Vázquez,
  • Alex Cabrera,
  • Sergio Bustos,
  • Carolina Iturriaga,
  • Marcela Urzua,
  • María S. Navarrete,
  • Álvaro Rojas,
  • Rodrigo A. Fasce,
  • Jorge Fernández,
  • Judith Mora,
  • Eugenio Ramírez,
  • Aracelly Gaete-Argel,
  • Mónica Acevedo,
  • Fernando Valiente-Echeverría,
  • Ricardo Soto-Rifo,
  • Daniela Weiskopf,
  • Alba Grifoni,
  • Alessandro Sette,
  • Gang Zeng,
  • Weining Meng,
  • José V. González-Aramundiz,
  • Pablo A. González,
  • Katia Abarca,
  • Felipe Melo-González,
  • Susan M. Bueno,
  • Alexis M. Kalergis,
  • Álvaro Rojas,
  • María Soledad Navarrete,
  • Constanza Del Río,
  • Dinely Del Pino,
  • Natalia Aguirre,
  • Grecia Salinas,
  • Franco Vega,
  • Acsa Salgado,
  • Thomas Quinteros,
  • Marlene Ortiz,
  • Marcela Puente,
  • Alma Muñoz,
  • Patricio Astudillo,
  • Nicole Le Corre,
  • Marcela Potin,
  • Juan Catalán,
  • Melan Peralta,
  • Consuelo Zamanillo,
  • Nicole Keller,
  • Rocío Fernández,
  • Sofía Aljaro,
  • Sofía López,
  • José Tomás González,
  • Tania Weil,
  • Luz Opazo,
  • Paula Muñoz,
  • Inés Estay,
  • Miguel Cantillana,
  • Liliana Carrera,
  • Matías Masalleras,
  • Paula Guzmán,
  • Francisca Aguirre,
  • Aarón Cortés,
  • Luis Federico Bátiz,
  • Javiera Pérez,
  • Karen Apablaza,
  • Lorena Yates,
  • María de los Ángeles Valdés,
  • Bernardita Hurtado,
  • Veronique Venteneul,
  • Constanza Astorga,
  • Paula Muñoz-Venturelli,
  • Pablo A. Vial,
  • Andrea Schilling,
  • Daniela Pavez,
  • Inia Pérez,
  • Amy Riviotta,
  • Francisca González,
  • Francisca Urrutia,
  • Alejandra Del Río,
  • Claudia Asenjo,
  • Bárbara Vargas,
  • Francisca Castro,
  • Alejandra Acuña,
  • Javiera Guzmán,
  • Camila Astudillo,
  • Carlos M. Pérez,
  • Pilar Espinoza,
  • Andrea Martínez,
  • Marcela Arancibia,
  • Harold Romero,
  • Cecilia Bustamante,
  • María Loreto Pérez,
  • Natalia Uribe,
  • Viviana Silva,
  • Bernardita Morice,
  • Marco Pérez,
  • Marcela González,
  • Werner Jensen,
  • Claudia Pasten,
  • M. Fernanda Aguilera,
  • Nataly Martínez,
  • Camila Molina,
  • Sebastián Arrieta,
  • Begoña López,
  • Claudia Ortiz,
  • Macarena Escobar,
  • Camila Bustamante,
  • Marcia Espinoza,
  • Angela Pardo,
  • Alison Carrasco,
  • Miguel Montes,
  • Macarena Saldías,
  • Natalia Gutiérrez,
  • Juliette Sánchez,
  • Daniela Fuentes,
  • Yolanda Calvo,
  • Mariela Cepeda,
  • Rosario Lemus,
  • Muriel Suárez,
  • Mercedes Armijo,
  • Shirley Monsalves,
  • Constance Marucich,
  • Cecilia Cornejo,
  • Ángela Acosta,
  • Xaviera Prado,
  • Francisca Yáñez,
  • Marisol Barroeta,
  • Claudia López,
  • Paulina Donato,
  • Martin Lasso,
  • María Iturrieta,
  • Juan Giraldo,
  • Francisco Gutiérrez,
  • María Acuña,
  • Ada Cascone,
  • Raymundo Rojas,
  • Camila Sepúlveda,
  • Mario Contreras,
  • Yessica Campisto,
  • Pablo González,
  • Zoila Quizhpi,
  • Mariella López,
  • Vania Pizzeghello,
  • Stephannie Silva

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 91
p. 104563

Abstract

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Summary: Background: The Omicron variant has challenged the control of the COVID-19 pandemic due to its immuno-evasive properties. The administration of a booster dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine showed positive effects in the immunogenicity against SARS-CoV-2, effect that is even enhanced after the administration of a second booster. Methods: During a phase-3 clinical trial, we evaluated the effect of a second booster of CoronaVac®, an inactivated vaccine administered 6 months after the first booster, in the neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 (n = 87). In parallel, cellular immunity (n = 45) was analyzed in stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells by flow cytometry and ELISPOT. Findings: Although a 2.5-fold increase in neutralization of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 was observed after the second booster when compared with prior its administration (Geometric mean units p < 0.0001; Geometric mean titer p = 0.0002), a poor neutralization against the Omicron variant was detected. Additionally, the activation of specific CD4+ T lymphocytes remained stable after the second booster and, importantly, equivalent activation of CD4+ T lymphocytes against the Omicron variant and the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 were found. Interpretation: Although the neutralizing response against the Omicron variant after the second booster of CoronaVac® was slightly increased, these levels are far from those observed against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and could most likely fail to neutralize the virus. In contrast, a robust CD4+T cell response may confer protection against the Omicron variant. Funding: The Ministry of Health, Government of Chile, the Confederation of Production and Commerce, Chile and SINOVAC Biotech. NIH NIAID. The Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy.

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