Novel T cell interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) using spike recombinant protein for COVID19 vaccine response and Nucleocapsid for SARS-Cov2 response

Yves Renaudineau; Florence Abravanel; Jacques Izopet; Chloé Bost; Emmanuel Treiner; Nicolas Congy; Antoine Blancher

doi:10.1016/j.clim.2022.108979

Novel T cell interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) using spike recombinant protein for COVID19 vaccine response and Nucleocapsid for SARS-Cov2 response

Clin Immunol. 2022 Apr:237:108979. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2022.108979. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

Authors

Yves Renaudineau¹, Florence Abravanel², Jacques Izopet³, Chloé Bost⁴, Emmanuel Treiner⁵, Nicolas Congy⁶, Antoine Blancher⁷

Affiliations

¹ Immunology department laboratory, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, Toulouse University Hospital Center, France; INFINITy, Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, INSERM U1291, CNRS U5051, University Toulouse III, Toulouse, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
² INFINITy, Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, INSERM U1291, CNRS U5051, University Toulouse III, Toulouse, France; Virology department laboratory, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, Toulouse University Hospital Center, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ INFINITy, Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, INSERM U1291, CNRS U5051, University Toulouse III, Toulouse, France; Virology department laboratory, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, Toulouse University Hospital Center, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Immunology department laboratory, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, Toulouse University Hospital Center, France; INFINITy, Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, INSERM U1291, CNRS U5051, University Toulouse III, Toulouse, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Immunology department laboratory, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, Toulouse University Hospital Center, France; INFINITy, Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, INSERM U1291, CNRS U5051, University Toulouse III, Toulouse, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Immunology department laboratory, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, Toulouse University Hospital Center, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Immunology department laboratory, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, Toulouse University Hospital Center, France; INFINITy, Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, INSERM U1291, CNRS U5051, University Toulouse III, Toulouse, France. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

We explored the performance of a whole blood interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) based on the stimulation of SARS-Cov2-specific T cells by purified recombinant proteins. Twenty volunteers vaccinated with BNT162b2 were selected first for T cell response evaluation using an in-house IGRA, a commercial IGRA, and ELISpot showing a S2 > S1 poly-epitopic response. Next, 64 vaccinated and 103 non-vaccinated individuals were tested for humoral and T cell response (IGRA-Spike/-nucleocapsid recombinant proteins). Following the second vaccine injection, humoral (100%) and IGRA-Spike T cell (95.3%) responses took place irrespective of sex, age, and vaccine type. The humoral response declined first, followed by IGRA-Spike T cell response after the second vaccine injection. Altogether, this study confirms the utility of the IGRA-Spike/-nucleocapsid assay to complement serology in COVID19 vaccinated individuals and those who have recovered from SARS-Cov2.

Keywords: COVID19; Spike; T cell response; Vaccine.

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Viral
BNT162 Vaccine
COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19* / diagnosis
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Humans
Interferon-gamma Release Tests*
Nucleocapsid
RNA, Viral
SARS-CoV-2
T-Lymphocytes

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
COVID-19 Vaccines
RNA, Viral
BNT162 Vaccine