COVID-19 vaccine booster induces a strong CD8 + T cell response against Omicron variant epitopes in HLA-A*02:01 + individuals

  1. Andrea T. Nguyen
  2. Christopher Szeto
  3. Demetra S.M. Chatzileontiadou
  4. Zhen Wei Marcus Tong
  5. Michael J. Dewar-Oldis
  6. Lucy Cooper
  7. Lawton D. Murdolo
  8. Keng Yih Chew
  9. Katie E. Lineburg
  10. Alan Riboldi-Tunicliffe
  11. Rachel Williamson
  12. Bradley J. Gardiner
  13. Dhilshan Jayasinghe
  14. Christian A. Lobos
  15. You Min Ahn
  16. Emma J. Grant
  17. Corey Smith
  18. James McMahon
  19. Kim L. Good-Jacobson
  20. Peter J. Barnard
  21. Kirsty R. Short
  22. Stephanie Gras

Reviewed by

Read the full article See related articles

Listed in

Log in to save this article

Abstract

The >30 mutated residues in the Omicron spike protein have led to its rapid classification as a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern. As a result, Omicron may escape from the immune system, decreasing the protection provided by COVID-19 vaccines. Preliminary data shows a weaker neutralizing antibody response to Omicron compared to the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 virus, which can be increased after a booster vaccine. Here, we report that CD8 + T cells can recognize Omicron variant epitopes presented by HLA-A*02:01 in both COVID-19 recovered and vaccinated individuals, even 6 months after infection or vaccination. Additionally, the T cell response was stronger for Omicron variant epitopes after the vaccine booster. Altogether, T cells can recognize Omicron variants, especially in vaccinated individuals after the vaccine booster.

One-Sentence Summary

CD8 + T cells response against Omicron variant epitopes is stronger after the vaccine booster.

Article activity feed

  1. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2022.01.12.473243: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Ethicsnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    No key resources detected.

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: An explicit section about the limitations of the techniques employed in this study was not found. We encourage authors to address study limitations.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    Results from scite Reference Check: We found no unreliable references.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  2. Version published to 10.1101/2022.01.12.473243v1 on bioRxiv