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Author

Wiebke Moskorz

Bio: Wiebke Moskorz is an academic researcher from University of Düsseldorf. The author has contributed to research in topics: Vaccination & Antibody. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 4 publications receiving 117 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted a cohort study with two age groups, young vaccinees below the age of 60 and elderly vaccinees over 80, to compare their antibody responses to the first and second dose of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the development of various vaccines. Real-life data on immune responses elicited in the most vulnerable group of vaccinees over 80 years old is still underrepresented despite the prioritization of the elderly in vaccination campaigns. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study with two age groups, young vaccinees below the age of 60 and elderly vaccinees over the age of 80, to compare their antibody responses to the first and second dose of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS: While the majority of participants in both groups produced specific IgG antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, titers were significantly lower in elderly participants. Although the increment of antibody levels after the second immunization was higher in elderly participants, the absolute mean titer of this group remained lower than the <60 group. After the second vaccination, 31.3 % of the elderly had no detectable neutralizing antibodies in contrast to the younger group, in which only 2.2% had no detectable neutralizing antibodies. CONCLUSION: Our data showed differences between the antibody responses raised after the first and second BNT162b2 vaccination, in particular lower frequencies of neutralizing antibodies in the elderly group. This suggests that this population needs to be closely monitored and may require earlier revaccination or/and an increased vaccine dose to ensure stronger long lasting immunity and protection against infection.

350 citations

Posted ContentDOI
09 Aug 2022-medRxiv
TL;DR: While anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific IgG and neutralization capacity waned rapidly after initial vaccination, additional boosters highly benefitted humoral immune responses including neutralization of Omikron variants in the elderly cohort.
Abstract: We provide follow-up data on the humoral immune response after COVID-19 vaccinations of a cohort aged below 60 and over 80 years. While anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific IgG and neutralization capacity waned rapidly after initial vaccination, additional boosters highly benefitted humoral immune responses including neutralization of Omikron variants in the elderly cohort.

44 citations

Posted ContentDOI
05 Mar 2021-medRxiv
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors conducted a cohort study with two age groups, young vaccinees below the age of 60 and elderly vaccinees over 80, to compare their antibody responses to the first and second dose of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination.
Abstract: BackgroundThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the development of various vaccines. Real-life data on immune responses elicited in the most vulnerable group of vaccinees over 80 years old is still underrepresented despite the prioritization of the elderly in vaccination campaigns. MethodsWe conducted a cohort study with two age groups, young vaccinees below the age of 60 and elderly vaccinees over the age of 80, to compare their antibody responses to the first and second dose of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination. ResultsWhile the majority of participants in both groups produced specific IgG antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, titers were significantly lower in elderly participants. Although the increment of antibody levels after the second immunization was higher in elderly participants, the absolute mean titer of this group remained lower than the <60 group. After the second vaccination, 31.3 % of the elderly had no detectable neutralizing antibodies in contrast to the younger group, in which only 2.2% had no detectable neutralizing antibodies. ConclusionOur data suggests that lower frequencies of neutralizing antibodies after BNT162b2 vaccination in the elderly population may require earlier revaccination to ensure strong immunity and protection against infection.

41 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data show that NKG2Cpos NK cells interact with HLA-Ehigh CD8 T cells, which may negatively regulate the expansion of CMV-specific CD 8 T cells upon activation.
Abstract: Infection with the human CMV associates with phenotypic alterations in lymphocyte subsets. A highly reproducible finding in CMV-seropositive individuals is an expansion of NKG2Cpos NK cells. In this study, we analyzed if the altered NK cell compartment in CMV-seropositive human donors may affect CMV-specific CD8 T cells. Resting CMV-specific CD8 T cells were terminally differentiated and expressed high levels of the NKG2C ligand HLA-E. Activation of CMV-specific CD8 T cells with the cognate Ag further increased HLA-E expression. In line with a negative regulatory effect of NKG2Cpos NK cells on HLA-Ehigh CD8 T cells, depletion of NKG2Cpos NK cells enhanced Ag-specific expansion of CMV-specific CD8 T cells in vitro. In turn, the activation of NK cells in coculture with CMV-specific CD8 T cells promoted a selective loss of HLA-Ehigh CD8 T cells. To test if NKG2Cpos NK cells can target HLA-Ehigh CD8 T cells, Jurkat T cells with and without stabilized HLA-E on the surface were used. NKG2Cpos NK cells stimulated with HLA-Ehigh Jurkat cells released higher levels of Granzyme B compared with NKG2Cneg NK cells and NKG2Cpos NK cells stimulated with HLA-Elow Jurkat cells. Moreover, intracellular levels of caspase 3/7 were increased in HLA-Ehigh Jurkat cells compared with HLA-Elow Jurkat cells, consistent with higher rates of apoptosis in HLA-Ehigh T cells in the presence of NKG2Cpos NK cells. Our data show that NKG2Cpos NK cells interact with HLA-Ehigh CD8 T cells, which may negatively regulate the expansion of CMV-specific CD8 T cells upon activation.

9 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the expression of immune checkpoint (IC) molecules within myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients was found to be elevated compared to patients in remission.
Abstract: Little data are available for the expression of immune checkpoint (IC) molecules within myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Here, we report increased PD-L1+ CD34+ CD38- and PD-L1+ CD34+ CD38+ stem cell frequencies within MDS patients compared to stem cell recipients in remission. Additionally, we observed exceedingly similar PD1+ and Tim-3+ T-cell frequencies between acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and MDS samples that were elevated compared to patients in remission. Furthermore, we found highly dynamic Tim-3+ and PD1+ T-cell frequencies within serial samples of relapsing MDS with excess blasts (MDS-EB II) patients, correlating with further disease markers. These findings support the idea of a potential successful implementation of IC inhibitor treatment in suitable MDS patients.

6 citations


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Journal ArticleDOI
06 Sep 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, the antibody and memory T cell responses after the two-dose BNT162b2 vaccine in 122 volunteers up to 6 months and correlated the findings with age and side effects.
Abstract: Background SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines have proven high efficacy, however, limited data exists on the duration of immune responses and their relation to age and side effects. Methods We studied the antibody and memory T cell responses after the two-dose BNT162b2 vaccine in 122 volunteers up to 6 months and correlated the findings with age and side effects. Findings We found a robust antibody response to Spike protein after the second dose. However, the antibody levels declined at 12 weeks and 6 months post-vaccination, indicating a waning of the immune response over time. At 6 months after the second dose, the Spike antibody levels were similar to the levels in persons vaccinated with one dose or in COVID-19 convalescent individuals. The antibodies efficiently blocked ACE2 receptor binding to SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein of five variants of concern at one week but this was decreased at three months. 87% of individuals developed Spike-specific memory T cell responses, which were lower in individuals with increased proportions of immunosenescent CD8+ TEMRA cells. We found antibody response to correlate negatively with age and positively with the total score of vaccination side effects. Interpretation The mRNA vaccine induces a strong antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 and five VOCs at 1 week post-vaccination that decreases thereafter. T cell responses, although detectable in the majority, were lower in individuals with higher T cell immunosenescence. The deterioration of vaccine response suggests the need to monitor for the potential booster vaccination.

386 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated vaccine immunogenicity and safety in a special population, namely, liver transplant recipients, and found that fewer than half of the recipients developed sufficient levels of antibodies against the virus, and in those who were positive, average antibody levels were 2x less compared to healthy controls.

256 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
23 Jul 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, a prospective study explored the eight week time course of specific cellular (interferon-I³ release assay and flow cytometry) or/and humoral immune responses (ELISA) to SARS-CoV-2 boost vaccination in more than 3100 participants including medical personnel, dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients using mRNA vaccines BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273.
Abstract: Background: Dialysis and kidney transplant patients are vulnerable populations for COVID-19 related disease and mortality. Methods: We conducted a prospective study exploring the eight week time course of specific cellular (interferon-I³ release assay and flow cytometry) or/and humoral immune responses (ELISA) to SARS-CoV-2 boost vaccination in more than 3100 participants including medical personnel, dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients using mRNA vaccines BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273. Results: SARS-CoV-2-vaccination induced seroconversion efficacy in dialysis patients was similar to medical personnel (> 95%), but markedly impaired in kidney transplant recipients (42%). T-cellular immunity largely mimicked humoral results. Major risk factors of seroconversion failure were immunosuppressive drug number and type (belatacept, MMF-MPA, calcineurin-inhibitors) as well as vaccine type (BNT162b2 mRNA). Seroconversion rates induced by mRNA-1273 compared to BNT162b2 vaccine were 97% to 88% (p < 0.001) in dialysis and 49% to 26% in transplant patients, respectively. Specific IgG directed against the new binding domain of the spike protein (RDB) were significantly higher in dialysis patients vaccinated by mRNA-1273 (95%) compared to BNT162b2 (85%, p < 0.001). Vaccination appeared safe and highly effective demonstrating an almost complete lack of symptomatic COVID-19 disease after boost vaccination as well as ceased disease incidences during third pandemic wave in dialysis patients. Conclusion: Dialysis patients exhibit a remarkably high seroconversion rate of 95% after boost vaccination, while humoral response is impaired in the majority of transplant recipients. Immunosuppressive drug number and type as well as vaccine type (BNT162b2) are major determinants of seroconversion failure in both dialysis and transplant patients suggesting immune monitoring and adaption of vaccination protocols.

204 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2021
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the ageing immune system and its ability to respond to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and propose interventions aimed at immunosenescence could enhance immune function not only in the elderly but in susceptible younger individuals, ultimately improving complications of severe COVID-19 for all ages.
Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global health threat with particular risk for severe disease and death in older adults and in adults with age-related metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Recent advances in the science of ageing have highlighted how ageing pathways control not only lifespan but also healthspan, the healthy years of life. Here, we discuss the ageing immune system and its ability to respond to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We specifically focus on the intersect of severe COVID-19 and immunosenescence to highlight pathways that may be determinant for the risk of complications and death following infection with SARS-CoV-2. New or adapted therapeutics that target ageing-associated pathways may be important tools to reduce the burden of death and long-term disability caused by this pandemic. Proposed interventions aimed at immunosenescence could enhance immune function not only in the elderly but in susceptible younger individuals as well, ultimately improving complications of severe COVID-19 for all ages.

151 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The VIVALDI study as discussed by the authors investigated the effect of the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca non-replicating viral-vectored vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19; AZD1222) and the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine (BNT162b2) in terms of PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV2 infection over time since vaccination.
Abstract: Summary Background The effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in older adults living in long-term care facilities is uncertain. We investigated the protective effect of the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca non-replicating viral-vectored vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19; AZD1222) and the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine (BNT162b2) in residents of long-term care facilities in terms of PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection over time since vaccination. Methods The VIVALDI study is a prospective cohort study that commenced recruitment on June 11, 2020, to investigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission, infection outcomes, and immunity in residents and staff in long-term care facilities in England that provide residential or nursing care for adults aged 65 years and older. In this cohort study, we included long-term care facility residents undergoing routine asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 testing between Dec 8, 2020 (the date the vaccine was first deployed in a long-term care facility), and March 15, 2021, using national testing data linked within the COVID-19 Datastore. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we estimated the relative hazard of PCR-positive infection at 0–6 days, 7–13 days, 14–20 days, 21–27 days, 28–34 days, 35–48 days, and 49 days and beyond after vaccination, comparing unvaccinated and vaccinated person-time from the same cohort of residents, adjusting for age, sex, previous infection, local SARS-CoV-2 incidence, long-term care facility bed capacity, and clustering by long-term care facility. We also compared mean PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values for positive swabs obtained before and after vaccination. The study is registered with ISRCTN, number 14447421. Findings 10 412 care home residents aged 65 years and older from 310 LTCFs were included in this analysis. The median participant age was 86 years (IQR 80–91), 7247 (69·6%) of 10 412 residents were female, and 1155 residents (11·1%) had evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. 9160 (88·0%) residents received at least one vaccine dose, of whom 6138 (67·0%) received ChAdOx1 and 3022 (33·0%) received BNT162b2. Between Dec 8, 2020, and March 15, 2021, there were 36 352 PCR results in 670 628 person-days, and 1335 PCR-positive infections (713 in unvaccinated residents and 612 in vaccinated residents) were included. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for PCR-positive infection relative to unvaccinated residents declined from 28 days after the first vaccine dose to 0·44 (95% CI 0·24–0·81) at 28–34 days and 0·38 (0·19–0·77) at 35–48 days. Similar effect sizes were seen for ChAdOx1 (adjusted HR 0·32, 95% CI 0·15–0·66) and BNT162b2 (0·35, 0·17–0·71) vaccines at 35–48 days. Mean PCR Ct values were higher for infections that occurred at least 28 days after vaccination than for those occurring before vaccination (31·3 [SD 8·7] in 107 PCR-positive tests vs 26·6 [6·6] in 552 PCR-positive tests; p Interpretation Single-dose vaccination with BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 vaccines provides substantial protection against infection in older adults from 4–7 weeks after vaccination and might reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. However, the risk of infection is not eliminated, highlighting the ongoing need for non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent transmission in long-term care facilities. Funding UK Government Department of Health and Social Care.

141 citations