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Publications

Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 40342296 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.70031

Differential reactivity of SARS-CoV-2 S-protein T-cell epitopes in vaccinated versus naturally infected individuals.

Clin Transl Immunology 14(5):e70031

Authors: Daniel J Browne, Pauline Crooks, Corey Smith, Denise L Doolan

Affiliations

  • Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine James Cook University Cairns QLD Australia.
  • QIMR Berghofer Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development and Translational and Human Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Brisbane QLD Australia.
  • Faculty of Medicine The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD Australia.
  • Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland St Lucia QLD Australia.

Abstract

Objectives

Vaccine-induced protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 has proved difficult to sustain. Robust T-cell responses are thought to play an important role, but T-cell responses against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-protein), the core vaccine antigen, following vaccination or natural infection are incompletely understood.

Methods

Herein, the reactivity of 170 putative SARS-CoV-2 S-protein CD8 and CD4 T-cell peptide epitopes in the same individuals prior to vaccination, after COVID-19 vaccination, and again following subsequent natural infection was assayed using a high-throughput reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (HTS-RT-qPCR) assay.

Results

The profile of immunoreactive SARS-CoV-2 S-protein epitopes differed between vaccination and natural infection. Vaccine-induced immunoreactive epitopes were localised primarily into two extra-domanial regions. In contrast, epitopes recognised following natural infection were spread across the antigen. Furthermore, T-cell epitopes in naïve individuals were primarily recognised in association with HLA-A, while natural infection shifted epitope associations towards HLA-B, particularly the B7 supertype.

Conclusion

This study provides insight into T-cell responses against the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein following vaccination and subsequent natural infection.

MeSH

Cells, Sars-Cov-2, Epitopes, Vaccines, Vaccination, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus, T-Lymphocytes, Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte, Infections