Summary
Memory inflation, as a term, has been used for 15 years now to describe the longitudinal development of stable, expanded CD8+ T memory pools with a distinct phenotype and functional profile ...which emerge in specific infection and vaccine settings. These settings have in common the persistence of antigen, especially cytomegalovirus infection but also more recently adenoviral vector vaccination. However, in contrast to chronic infections which lead to “exhaustion” the repeated antigen encounters experienced by CD8+ T cells lead to development of a robust T‐cell population structure which maintains functionality and size. In this review, I will discuss how the ideas around this form of memory have evolved over time and some new models which can help explain how these populations are induced and sustained. These models are relevant to immunity against persistent viruses, to novel vaccine strategies and to concepts about aging.
MAIT Cells in Health and Disease Provine, Nicholas M; Klenerman, Paul
Annual review of immunology,
04/2020, Letnik:
38, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have been attracting increasing attention over the last few years as a potent unconventional T cell subset. Three factors largely account for this emerging ...interest. Firstly, these cells are abundant in humans, both in circulation and especially in some tissues such as the liver. Secondly is the discovery of a ligand that has uncovered their microbial targets, and also allowed for the development of tools to accurately track the cells in both humans and mice. Finally, it appears that the cells not only have a diverse range of functions but also are sensitive to a range of inflammatory triggers that can enhance or even bypass T cell receptor-mediated signals-substantially broadening their likely impact in health and disease. In this review we discuss how MAIT cells display antimicrobial, homeostatic, and amplifier roles in vivo, and how this may lead to protection and potentially pathology.
Hepatitis C Webster, Daniel P, Dr; Klenerman, Paul, Prof; Dusheiko, Geoffrey M, Prof
The Lancet,
03/2015, Letnik:
385, Številka:
9973
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Summary Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem worldwide. The effects of chronic infection include cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. As a result ...of shared routes of transmission, co-infection with HIV is a substantial problem, and individuals infected with both viruses have poorer outcomes than do peers infected with one virus. No effective vaccine exists, although persistent HCV infection is potentially curable. The standard of care has been subcutaneous interferon alfa and oral ribavirin for 24–72 weeks. This treatment results in a sustained virological response in around 50% of individuals, and is complicated by clinically significant adverse events. In the past 10 years, advances in HCV cell culture have enabled an improved understanding of HCV virology, which has led to development of many new direct-acting antiviral drugs that target key components of virus replication. These direct-acting drugs allow for simplified and shortened treatments for HCV that can be given as oral regimens with increased tolerability and efficacy than interferon and ribavirin. Remaining obstacles include access to appropriate care and treatment, and development of a vaccine.
The race to produce vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began when the first sequence was published, and this forms the basis for vaccines currently deployed ...globally. Independent lineages of SARS-CoV-2 have recently been reported: UK, B.1.1.7; South Africa, B.1.351; and Brazil, P.1. These variants have multiple changes in the immunodominant spike protein that facilitates viral cell entry via the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor. Mutations in the receptor recognition site on the spike are of great concern for their potential for immune escape. Here, we describe a structure-function analysis of B.1.351 using a large cohort of convalescent and vaccinee serum samples. The receptor-binding domain mutations provide tighter ACE2 binding and widespread escape from monoclonal antibody neutralization largely driven by E484K, although K417N and N501Y act together against some important antibody classes. In a number of cases, it would appear that convalescent and some vaccine serum offers limited protection against this variant.
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•Reduced B.1.351 neutralization by mAbs and sera induced by early SARS-CoV-2 isolates•B.1.351 neutralization titer reduced 8- to 9-fold for Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccinees•E484K, K417N, and N501Y cause widespread escape from mAbs•NTD deletion in B.1.351 abrogates neutralization by a potent neutralizing human mAb
Structure-function analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.351 using serum samples from convalescent and vaccinated individuals reveals how mutations in the viral spike protein result in tighter binding to the receptor ACE2 and allow escape from monoclonal antibody neutralization.
The Omicron lineage of SARS-CoV-2, first described in November 2021, spread rapidly to become globally dominant and has split into a number of sub-lineages. BA.1 dominated the initial wave but has ...been replaced by BA.2 in many countries. Recent sequencing from South Africa’s Gauteng region uncovered two new sub-lineages, BA.4 and BA.5 which are taking over locally, driving a new wave. BA.4 and BA.5 contain identical spike sequences and, although closely related to BA.2, contain further mutations in the receptor binding domain of spike. Here, we study the neutralization of BA.4/5 using a range of vaccine and naturally immune serum and panels of monoclonal antibodies. BA.4/5 shows reduced neutralization by serum from triple AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccinated individuals compared to BA.1 and BA.2. Furthermore, using serum from BA.1 vaccine breakthrough infections there are likewise, significant reductions in the neutralization of BA.4/5, raising the possibility of repeat Omicron infections.
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1.BA.4/5 resist neutralization by triple-dosed vaccinee serum more than BA.1/2.2.BA.1 vaccine breakthrough serum shows reduced neutralization of BA.4/5.3.Activity of SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic antibodies against BA.4/5 is reduced.4.L452R and F486V mutations both make major contributions to BA.4/5 escape.
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages bear mutations that lead to their reduced neutralization by sera from triple vaccinated individuals when compared to the more recent BA.1 and BA.2. Importantly, sera from individuals with breakthrough BA.1 infections also show reduced neutralization, suggesting that repeat Omicron infections are likely in the population.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has undergone progressive change, with variants conferring advantage rapidly becoming dominant lineages, e.g., B.1.617. With apparent ...increased transmissibility, variant B.1.617.2 has contributed to the current wave of infection ravaging the Indian subcontinent and has been designated a variant of concern in the United Kingdom. Here we study the ability of monoclonal antibodies and convalescent and vaccine sera to neutralize B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2, complement this with structural analyses of Fab/receptor binding domain (RBD) complexes, and map the antigenic space of current variants. Neutralization of both viruses is reduced compared with ancestral Wuhan-related strains, but there is no evidence of widespread antibody escape as seen with B.1.351. However, B.1.351 and P.1 sera showed markedly more reduction in neutralization of B.1.617.2, suggesting that individuals infected previously by these variants may be more susceptible to reinfection by B.1.617.2. This observation provides important new insights for immunization policy with future variant vaccines in non-immune populations.
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•Vaccine/convalescent sera show reduced neutralization of B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2•Sera from B.1.351and P.1 show markedly reduced neutralization of B.1.617.2•B.1.351, P.1, and B.1.617.2 are antigenically divergent•Vaccines based on B.1.1.7 may protect broadly against current variants
The B.1.617 lineage of SARS-CoV-2, especially the delta strain, which is B.1.617.2, has contributed to the wave of infection in the Indian subcontinent. Structural and serological analyses show some evidence of antibody escape, and individuals infected previously with the B.1.351 (beta) and P.1 (gamma) variants are likely more susceptible to reinfection by the delta strain. Vaccines based on B.1.1.7 (alpha) are likely to provide the broadest protection against current variants.
Activation of the group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2) population leads to production of the classical type 2 cytokines, thus promoting type 2 immunity. Chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule ...expressed on TH2 cells (CRTH2), a receptor for prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), is expressed by human ILC2s. However, the function of CRTH2 in these cells is unclear.
We sought to determine the role of PGD2 and CRTH2 in human ILC2s and compare it with that of the established ILC2 activators IL-25 and IL-33.
The effects of PGD2, IL-25, and IL-33 on the cell migration, cytokine production, gene regulation, and receptor expression of ILC2s were measured with chemotaxis, ELISA, Luminex, flow cytometry, quantitative RT-PCR, and QuantiGene assays. The effects of PGD2 under physiologic conditions were evaluated by using the supernatant from activated mast cells.
PGD2 binding to CRTH2 induced ILC2 migration and production of type 2 cytokines and many other cytokines. ILC2 activation through CRTH2 also upregulated the expression of IL-33 and IL-25 receptor subunits (ST2 and IL-17RA). The effects of PGD2 on ILC2s could be mimicked by the supernatant from activated human mast cells and inhibited by a CRTH2 antagonist.
PGD2 is an important and potent activator of ILC2s through CRTH2 mediating strong proallergic inflammatory responses. Through IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation, these innate cells can also contribute to adaptive type 2 immunity; thus CRTH2 bridges the innate and adaptive pathways in human ILC2s.
SARS-CoV-2 has caused over 2 million deaths in little over a year. Vaccines are being deployed at scale, aiming to generate responses against the virus spike. The scale of the pandemic and ...error-prone virus replication is leading to the appearance of mutant viruses and potentially escape from antibody responses. Variant B.1.1.7, now dominant in the UK, with increased transmission, harbors 9 amino acid changes in the spike, including N501Y in the ACE2 interacting surface. We examine the ability of B.1.1.7 to evade antibody responses elicited by natural SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. We map the impact of N501Y by structure/function analysis of a large panel of well-characterized monoclonal antibodies. B.1.1.7 is harder to neutralize than parental virus, compromising neutralization by some members of a major class of public antibodies through light-chain contacts with residue 501. However, widespread escape from monoclonal antibodies or antibody responses generated by natural infection or vaccination was not observed.
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•Original strain convalescent and vaccine sera show reduced B.1.1.7 neutralization•N501Y enhances RBD: ACE2 binding affinity•N501Y compromises neutralization by many antibodies with public V-region IGHV3-53•No widespread escape by B.1.1.7 was observed
The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant is not neutralized as easily as the original form of the virus. Some public antibodies cannot neutralize B.1.1.7, due to altered light-chain contacts with residue 501. However, B.1.1.7 does not show widespread escape from monoclonal antibodies, natural antibody responses, or vaccines.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic in 2020. Testing is crucial for mitigating public health and economic effects. Serology is considered key to ...population-level surveillance and potentially individual-level risk assessment. However, immunoassay performance has not been compared on large, identical sample sets. We aimed to investigate the performance of four high-throughput commercial SARS-CoV-2 antibody immunoassays and a novel 384-well ELISA.
We did a head-to-head assessment of SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay (Abbott, Chicago, IL, USA), LIAISON SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG assay (DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy), Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay (Roche, Basel, Switzerland), SARS-CoV-2 Total assay (Siemens, Munich, Germany), and a novel 384-well ELISA (the Oxford immunoassay). We derived sensitivity and specificity from 976 pre-pandemic blood samples (collected between Sept 4, 2014, and Oct 4, 2016) and 536 blood samples from patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, collected at least 20 days post symptom onset (collected between Feb 1, 2020, and May 31, 2020). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess assay thresholds.
At the manufacturers' thresholds, for the Abbott assay sensitivity was 92·7% (95% CI 90·2–94·8) and specificity was 99·9% (99·4–100%); for the DiaSorin assay sensitivity was 96·2% (94·2–97·7) and specificity was 98·9% (98·0–99·4); for the Oxford immunoassay sensitivity was 99·1% (97·8–99·7) and specificity was 99·0% (98·1–99·5); for the Roche assay sensitivity was 97·2% (95·4–98·4) and specificity was 99·8% (99·3–100); and for the Siemens assay sensitivity was 98·1% (96·6–99·1) and specificity was 99·9% (99·4–100%). All assays achieved a sensitivity of at least 98% with thresholds optimised to achieve a specificity of at least 98% on samples taken 30 days or more post symptom onset.
Four commercial, widely available assays and a scalable 384-well ELISA can be used for SARS-CoV-2 serological testing to achieve sensitivity and specificity of at least 98%. The Siemens assay and Oxford immunoassay achieved these metrics without further optimisation. This benchmark study in immunoassay assessment should enable refinements of testing strategies and the best use of serological testing resource to benefit individuals and population health.
Public Health England and UK National Institute for Health Research.
MAIT cells and viruses Ussher, James E; Willberg, Christian B; Klenerman, Paul
Immunology and cell biology,
July 2018, Letnik:
96, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) bear a T cell receptor (TCR) that specifically targets microbially derived metabolites. Functionally, they respond to bacteria and yeasts, which ...possess the riboflavin pathway, essential for production of such metabolites and which are presented on MR1. Viruses cannot generate these ligands, so a priori, they should not be recognized by MAIT cells and indeed this is true when considering recognition through the TCR. However, MAIT cells are distinctive in another respect, since they respond quite sensitively to non‐TCR signals, especially in the form of inflammatory cytokines. Thus, a number of groups have shown that virus infection can be “sensed” by MAIT cells and a functional response invoked. Since MAIT cells are abundant in humans, especially in tissues such as the liver, the question has arisen as to whether this TCR‐independent MAIT cell triggering by viruses plays any role in vivo. In this review, we will discuss the evidence for this phenomenon and some common features which emerge across different recent studies in this area.
MAIT cells are abundant in humans and have been shown to respond to viruses. In this article, we explore the mechanisms behind this and what the implications are in vivo.