6 research outputs found
Evolution of long-term vaccine-induced and hybrid immunity in healthcare workers after different COVID-19 vaccine regimens
BACKGROUND: Both infection and vaccination, alone or in combination, generate antibody and TÂ cell responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the maintenance of such responses-and hence protection from disease-requires careful characterization. In a large prospective study of UK healthcare workers (HCWs) (Protective Immunity from T Cells in Healthcare Workers [PITCH], within the larger SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and Reinfection Evaluation [SIREN] study), we previously observed that prior infection strongly affected subsequent cellular and humoral immunity induced after long and short dosing intervals of BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) vaccination. METHODS: Here, we report longer follow-up of 684 HCWs in this cohort over 6-9Â months following two doses of BNT162b2 or AZD1222 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) vaccination and up to 6Â months following a subsequent mRNA booster vaccination. FINDINGS: We make three observations: first, the dynamics of humoral and cellular responses differ; binding and neutralizing antibodies declined, whereas T and memory B cell responses were maintained after the second vaccine dose. Second, vaccine boosting restored immunoglobulin (Ig) G levels; broadened neutralizing activity against variants of concern, including Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5; and boosted TÂ cell responses above the 6-month level after dose 2. Third, prior infection maintained its impact driving larger and broader TÂ cell responses compared with never-infected people, a feature maintained until 6Â months after the third dose. CONCLUSIONS: Broadly cross-reactive TÂ cell responses are well maintained over time-especially in those with combined vaccine and infection-induced immunity ("hybrid" immunity)-and may contribute to continued protection against severe disease
Islamophobia or an important weapon? An analysis of the US financial war on terrorism
This article considers the impact of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) on the legislative and policy response by the United States towards terrorist financing. This article is divided into three parts. Part 1 considers the alleged association between Islamic banking systems and terrorist finance. The second part of the article critically considers the ability of the US authorities to freeze the assets of organisations who are suspected of financing terrorism by virtue of Presidential Executive Order 13 224. The final part of the article considers the reporting requirements imposed by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act 2001). The third part also highlights some provisions and practices that raise the spectre of racial profiling in the United States, and critiques the fairness and success of such measures imposed on particular group of persons. The objective is not to provide a comprehensive analysis of the laws and policies, but to emphasise areas that have not yet been subject to sufficient scrutiny from the perspective of success and equality of the application of the law
Nutrient budgets and the regulation of nutrient concentrations in a small sub-arctic lake in northern Sweden
Omicron infection following vaccination enhances a broad spectrum of immune responses dependent on infection history
Abstract Pronounced immune escape by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has resulted in many individuals possessing hybrid immunity, generated through a combination of vaccination and infection. Concerns have been raised that omicron breakthrough infections in triple-vaccinated individuals result in poor induction of omicron-specific immunity, and that prior SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with immune dampening. Taking a broad and comprehensive approach, we characterize mucosal and blood immunity to spike and non-spike antigens following BA.1/BA.2 infections in triple mRNA-vaccinated individuals, with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. We find that most individuals increase BA.1/BA.2/BA.5-specific neutralizing antibodies following infection, but confirm that the magnitude of increase and post-omicron titres are higher in the infection-naive. In contrast, significant increases in nasal responses, including neutralizing activity against BA.5 spike, are seen regardless of infection history. Spike-specific T cells increase only in infection-naive vaccinees; however, post-omicron T cell responses are significantly higher in the previously-infected, who display a maximally induced response with a highly cytotoxic CD8+ phenotype following their 3rd mRNA vaccine dose. Responses to non-spike antigens increase significantly regardless of prior infection status. These findings suggest that hybrid immunity induced by omicron breakthrough infections is characterized by significant immune enhancement that can help protect against future omicron variants
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Evolution of long-term vaccine-induced and hybrid immunity in healthcare workers after different COVID-19 vaccine regimens.
BACKGROUND: Both infection and vaccination, alone or in combination, generate antibody and TÂ cell responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the maintenance of such responses-and hence protection from disease-requires careful characterization. In a large prospective study of UK healthcare workers (HCWs) (Protective Immunity from T Cells in Healthcare Workers [PITCH], within the larger SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and Reinfection Evaluation [SIREN] study), we previously observed that prior infection strongly affected subsequent cellular and humoral immunity induced after long and short dosing intervals of BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) vaccination. METHODS: Here, we report longer follow-up of 684 HCWs in this cohort over 6-9Â months following two doses of BNT162b2 or AZD1222 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) vaccination and up to 6Â months following a subsequent mRNA booster vaccination. FINDINGS: We make three observations: first, the dynamics of humoral and cellular responses differ; binding and neutralizing antibodies declined, whereas T and memory B cell responses were maintained after the second vaccine dose. Second, vaccine boosting restored immunoglobulin (Ig) G levels; broadened neutralizing activity against variants of concern, including Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5; and boosted TÂ cell responses above the 6-month level after dose 2. Third, prior infection maintained its impact driving larger and broader TÂ cell responses compared with never-infected people, a feature maintained until 6Â months after the third dose. CONCLUSIONS: Broadly cross-reactive TÂ cell responses are well maintained over time-especially in those with combined vaccine and infection-induced immunity ("hybrid" immunity)-and may contribute to continued protection against severe disease. FUNDING: Department for Health and Social Care, Medical Research Council
Evolution of long-term vaccine-induced and hybrid immunity in healthcare workers after different COVID-19 vaccine regimens
BackgroundBoth infection and vaccination, alone or in combination, generate antibody and TÂ cell responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the maintenance of such responses-and hence protection from disease-requires careful characterization. In a large prospective study of UK healthcare workers (HCWs) (Protective Immunity from T Cells in Healthcare Workers [PITCH], within the larger SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and Reinfection Evaluation [SIREN] study), we previously observed that prior infection strongly affected subsequent cellular and humoral immunity induced after long and short dosing intervals of BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) vaccination.MethodsHere, we report longer follow-up of 684 HCWs in this cohort over 6-9Â months following two doses of BNT162b2 or AZD1222 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) vaccination and up to 6Â months following a subsequent mRNA booster vaccination.FindingsWe make three observations: first, the dynamics of humoral and cellular responses differ; binding and neutralizing antibodies declined, whereas T and memory B cell responses were maintained after the second vaccine dose. Second, vaccine boosting restored immunoglobulin (Ig) G levels; broadened neutralizing activity against variants of concern, including Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5; and boosted TÂ cell responses above the 6-month level after dose 2. Third, prior infection maintained its impact driving larger and broader TÂ cell responses compared with never-infected people, a feature maintained until 6Â months after the third dose.ConclusionsBroadly cross-reactive TÂ cell responses are well maintained over time-especially in those with combined vaccine and infection-induced immunity ("hybrid" immunity)-and may contribute to continued protection against severe disease.FundingDepartment for Health and Social Care, Medical Research Council