BNT162b2 Elicited an Efficient Humoral Response Against Different Strains of SARS-CoV-2 in People Living with HIV.

Abstract

Vaccines have had a fundamental impact in containing the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, there are few efficacy data relating to frail patients, including the HIV-positive patient. This study evaluated the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV- 2) serum neutralization in People Living with HIV (PLWH) compared to a cohort of healthy volunteers both vaccinated with BNT162b2. A serum sample was then withdrawn 14-21 days after the second dose of the vaccine and a serum neutralization assay was performed on Vero E6 cells. The experiments were performed using two strains of SARS-CoV-2 as 20A.EU1 and B.1.617.2. PLWH on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) showed a vaccine response comparable to the healthy subjects. No correlation between CD4 count or CD4/CD8 and neutralizing antibodies (NTAbs) has been found. No differences in NT-Abs between patients with CD4 nadir above or under 200 cells/μl have been found. In both cohorts, vaccine-elicited serum better neutralized 20A.EU1 than B.1.617.2 strain. PLWH in ART and with good immuno-virological recovery showed a vaccine response comparable to that of healthy subjects and regardless of their immunological status at HIV infection diagnosis. However, larger studies are needed to confirm our results and to evaluate the vaccine response even in patients with low CD4 counts.