Vaccines

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shashank Tripathi

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Guest Editor

Microbiology & Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
Interests: influenza A viruses; human coronaviruses; flaviviruses; vaccines; antivirals; immune evasion; animal models; viral pathogenesis

Dr. Kesavardana Sannula

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
Interests: RNA viruses; immune evasion; inflammasome; viral adaptation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic made us realize the importance of vaccines in protecting humans from unprecedented carnage caused by novel pathogens, especially fast-spreading respiratory viruses. We were fortunate to develop initial vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2 in an astonishingly short time. However, the virus has posed a formidable challenge through its constant antigenic drift and shift to evade vaccine-mediated and natural immunity. The durability of vaccine response has been another challenge, as the antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 have been particularly short-lived. To develop better vaccines, it is crucial to understand the immune response against SARS-CoV-2, the immune correlates of protection, the determinants of the longevity of the immune response, and viral strategies to evade host immunity. In this proposed Special Issue, we will be inviting research articles and reviews from scientists across the globe specializing in this subject.

Dr. Shashank Tripathi
Dr. Kesavardana Sannula
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Vaccines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2
vaccines
immune response
immune evasion
immune suppression

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2157 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Humoral Immune Responses following COVID-19 Vaccinations among Adults in Tanzania

by Muhammad Bakari, Said Aboud, Mabula Kasubi, Bruno P. Mmbando, Nyanda Elias Ntinginya, Aifello Sichalwe, Omary S. Ubuguyu, Alex Magesa, Nancy Ladislaus Rutananukwa, Helmut Nyawale, Abisai Kisinda, Medard Beyanga, Pius G. Horumpende, Paulo S. Mhame, Liggle M. Vumilia, Lucy S. Mziray, Reuben Mkala, Elichilia Shao, Abel Makubi, Stephen E. Mshana and Rogath Kishimba Show full author list Hide full author list

Vaccines 2024, 12(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12010022 - 23 Dec 2023

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Abstract

COVID-19 vaccination remains to be the most important intervention in the fight against the pandemic. The immunity among the vaccinated population and its durability can significantly vary due to various factors. This study investigated the humoral immune responses among individuals who received any of the COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Tanzania. A total of 1048 randomly selected adults who received COVID-19 vaccines at different time points were enrolled and humoral immune responses (IR) were tested at baseline and three months later (960, 91.6%). The level of SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike/receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG, anti-nucleocapsid IgG, and IgM antibodies were determined using a commercially available chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Descriptive data analysis was performed using STATA version 18 and R. At baseline, serum IgG against anti-spike/RBD was detected in 1010/1048 (96.4%) participants (95%CI: 94.9–97.5) and 98.3% (95%CI: 97.3–99) three months later. The IgG against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid proteins were detected in 40.8% and 45.3% of participants at baseline and follow-up, respectively. The proportion of seroconverters following vaccination and mean titers of anti-spike/RBD antibodies were significantly more among those who had past SARS-CoV-2 infection than in those with no evidence of past infection, (p < 0.001). Only 0.5% of those who had detectable anti-spike/RBD antibodies at baseline were negative after three months of follow-up and 1.5% had breakthrough infections. The majority of participants (99.5%) had detectable anti-spike/RBD antibodies beyond 6 months post-vaccination. The proportion of Tanzanians who mounted humoral IR following COVID-19 vaccination was very high. Seroconversions, as well as the mean titers and durability of humoral IR, were significantly enhanced by exposure to natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. In view of the limited availability of COVID-19 vaccines as well as challenges to completing subsequent doses, booster doses could only be suggested to high-risk groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Response and Vaccine Strategies against SARS-CoV-2)

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17 pages, 4022 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Humoral and Cellular Immunity following Five Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Abdulmalik S. Alotaibi, Heba A. Shalabi, Abdullah A. Alhifany, Nouf E. Alotaibi, Mohammed A. Alnuhait, Abdulrahman R. Altheaby and Abdulfattah Y. Alhazmi

Vaccines 2023, 11(7), 1166; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11071166 - 27 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1779

Abstract

Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at increased risk of COVID-19 infection because of their suppressed immunity. The available data show that COVID-19 vaccines are less effective in SOT recipients. We aimed to assess the cellular and humoral immunogenicity with an increasing the number of doses of COVID-19 vaccines in SOT recipients and to identify factors affecting vaccine response in this population. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to identify ongoing and completed studies of humoral and cellular immunity following COVID-19 vaccines in SOT recipients. The search retrieved 278 results with 45 duplicates, and 43 records did not match the inclusion criteria. After title and abstract screening, we retained 189 records, and 135 records were excluded. The reasons for exclusion involved studies with immunocompromised patients (non-transplant recipients), dialysis patients, and individuals who had already recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. After full-text reading, 55 observational studies and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included. The proportion of responders appeared higher after the third, fourth, and fifth doses. The risk factors for non-response included older age and the use of mycophenolate mofetil, corticosteroids, and other immunosuppressants. This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates the immunogenicity following different doses of COVID-19 vaccines among SOT patients. Due to the low immunogenicity of vaccines, additional strategies to improve vaccine response may be necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Response and Vaccine Strategies against SARS-CoV-2)

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