CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and antibodies are associated with protection against Delta vaccine breakthrough infection: a nested case-control study within the PITCH study.

Isabel Neale ,Eleanor Barnes ,Susan Hopkins ,Teresa Lambe ,Null Author_Id ,Adriana Tomić ,Megan Plowright ,Edward J Carr ,Miles W Carroll ,Rupert Beale ,Paul Klenerman ,Tom Newman ,Lance Turtle ,Mary Wu ,Alexandra Deeks ,Stéphanie Longet ,Victoria Hall ,Priyanka Abraham ,Alex G Richter ,Thushan I De Silva ,Barbara Kronsteiner-Dobramysl ,Rebecca Payne ,Mohammad Ali ,Susan L Dobson ,Lizzie Stafford ,Christopher J A Duncan ,Anthony Brown ,Shona C Moore ,Ashley Otter ,Susanna Dunachie

doi:10.1128/mbio.01212-23

Abstract

Defining correlates of protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine breakthrough infection informs vaccine policy for booster doses and future vaccine designs. Existing studies demonstrate humoral correlates of protection, but the role of T cells in protection is still unclear. In this study, we explore antibody and T cell immune responses associated with protection against Delta variant vaccine breakthrough infection in a well-characterized cohort of UK Healthcare Workers (HCWs). We demonstrate evidence to support a role for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as antibodies against Delta vaccine breakthrough infection. In addition, our results suggest a potential role for cross-reactive T cells in vaccine breakthrough.

Full Text