SARS-CoV-2 immunity and vaccine strategies in people with HIV.

Current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines, based on the ancestral Wuhan strain, were developed rapidly to meet the needs of a devastating global pandemic. People living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLWH) have been designated as a priority group for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in most regions and varying primary courses (two- or three-dose schedule) and additional boosters are recommended depending on current CD4+ T cell count and/or detectable HIV viraemia. From the current published data, licensed vaccines are safe for PLWH, and stimulate robust responses to vaccination in those well controlled on antiretroviral therapy and with high CD4+ T cell counts.

Attenuated humoral responses in HIV after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination linked to B cell defects and altered immune profiles.

We assessed a cohort of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) (n = 110) and HIV negative controls (n = 64) after 1, 2 or 3 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses. At all timepoints, PLWH had significantly lower neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers than HIV-negative controls. We also observed a delayed development of neutralization in PLWH that was underpinned by a reduced frequency of spike-specific memory B cells (MBCs).

Attenuated humoral responses in HIV infection after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are linked to global B cell defects and cellular immune profiles.

People living with HIV (PLWH) on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) can have residual immune dysfunction and often display poorer responses to vaccination. We assessed in a cohort of PLWH (n=110) and HIV negative controls (n=64) the humoral and spike-specific B-cell responses following 1, 2 or 3 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses. PLWH had significantly lower neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers than HIV-negative controls at all studied timepoints.

Improving the accuracy of clinical interpretation of serological testing for the diagnosis of acute hepatitis a infection.

Background: Hepatitis A (HA) remains a common infection globally that results in a self-limiting hepatitis with gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms. Direct detection of the virus in blood or stool is often not possible once symptomatic. Serological testing is frequently performed to investigate abnormal liver function tests - and interpretation of equivocal and low-level positive anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) IgM is difficult even in the context of accurate epidemiological and clinical information.