Robust COVID-19 Vaccine Responses Despite Filarial Co-Infection: Insights from a Lymphatic Filariasis Cohort in Ghana
Background/Objectives: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has largely concluded, the varied trajectories it has followed in different regions of the world remain incompletely understood. Intensive research is needed to fully grasp its course and the implications for future global health challenges. Nota...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Julia Meyer Jennifer Nadal Linda Batsa Debrah Alexander Yaw Debrah Jubin Osei-Mensah Derrick Adu Mensah Patricia Jebett Korir Janina M. Kuehlwein Ute Klarmann-Schulz Achim Hoerauf Tomabu Adjobimey |
| author_facet | Julia Meyer Jennifer Nadal Linda Batsa Debrah Alexander Yaw Debrah Jubin Osei-Mensah Derrick Adu Mensah Patricia Jebett Korir Janina M. Kuehlwein Ute Klarmann-Schulz Achim Hoerauf Tomabu Adjobimey |
| author_sort | Julia Meyer |
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| description | Background/Objectives: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has largely concluded, the varied trajectories it has followed in different regions of the world remain incompletely understood. Intensive research is needed to fully grasp its course and the implications for future global health challenges. Notably, the milder trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa has defied initial predictions. An emerging body of evidence suggests that, in addition to the continent’s younger average age and the lower prevalence of relevant comorbidities, co-infections with helminths may have also impressively shaped the pandemic’s milder trajectory in the region. Indeed, helminths are renowned for their ability to modulate human immune responses, which, while potentially beneficial in limiting excessive inflammation, could also diminish vaccine efficacy and impede viral clearance. This study investigated different aspects of the intricate interactions between COVID-19 and Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), a helminth infection caused by parasitic worms such as <i>Wuchereria bancrofti</i>, <i>Brugia malayi</i>, and <i>Brugia timori</i> and endemic to various regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and the tropics. Methods: For this purpose, samples of a larger and ongoing clinical trial (ethical approval codes: CHRPE/AP/525/17 and 325/21; trial registration number ISRCTN14042737) were collected from 222 individuals from endemic areas of Ghana, along with comprehensive clinical and demographic data. The samples include LF patients (<i>n</i> = 222) grouped according to their Lymphoedema (LE) stages, as well as COVID-19 vaccinated (<i>n</i> = 81) and non-vaccinated individuals (<i>n</i> = 141). All vaccinated participants received the COVID-19 vaccine ChAdOx1-S (also known as Vaxzevria) developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZenca. The expressions of SARS-CoV-2 and filarial-specific antibodies (IgG, IgA) were accessed using ELISA, while Luminex-based immunoassays were employed to measure the expression of SARS-CoV-2 variant-specific neutralizing antibodies. The interplay between vaccine responses and demographic factors was analyzed using group comparisons with the Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The results indicate that a remarkable portion of unvaccinated individuals (56% IgA seropositive, 39% IgG seropositive) developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 despite no confirmed infection. Notably, the study identified a robust antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination, which was independent of the degree of LF pathology or parasitic status. An important observation was the reduced SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in individuals seropositive for <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.0264), highlighting an interaction between roundworm infection and COVID-19. Conclusions: The study concludes that the ChAdOx1-S COVID-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca) triggers a strong immune response in LF patients; however, filarial and/or soil-transmitted helminth seropositivity might influence the COVID-19 infection-induced response. These findings emphasize the complexity of infectious disease dynamics in co-infected populations and the need to decipher parasite-induced immunomodulatory mechanisms on COVID-19 vaccination. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-16632de3bb69429c8f19a8134055811f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj-art-16632de3bb69429c8f19a8134055811f2025-08-20T01:50:10ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-03-0113331210.3390/vaccines13030312Robust COVID-19 Vaccine Responses Despite Filarial Co-Infection: Insights from a Lymphatic Filariasis Cohort in GhanaJulia Meyer0Jennifer Nadal1Linda Batsa Debrah2Alexander Yaw Debrah3Jubin Osei-Mensah4Derrick Adu Mensah5Patricia Jebett Korir6Janina M. Kuehlwein7Ute Klarmann-Schulz8Achim Hoerauf9Tomabu Adjobimey10Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyInstitute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, GhanaKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, GhanaKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, GhanaKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, GhanaInstitute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyInstitute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyInstitute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyInstitute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyInstitute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyBackground/Objectives: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has largely concluded, the varied trajectories it has followed in different regions of the world remain incompletely understood. Intensive research is needed to fully grasp its course and the implications for future global health challenges. Notably, the milder trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa has defied initial predictions. An emerging body of evidence suggests that, in addition to the continent’s younger average age and the lower prevalence of relevant comorbidities, co-infections with helminths may have also impressively shaped the pandemic’s milder trajectory in the region. Indeed, helminths are renowned for their ability to modulate human immune responses, which, while potentially beneficial in limiting excessive inflammation, could also diminish vaccine efficacy and impede viral clearance. This study investigated different aspects of the intricate interactions between COVID-19 and Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), a helminth infection caused by parasitic worms such as <i>Wuchereria bancrofti</i>, <i>Brugia malayi</i>, and <i>Brugia timori</i> and endemic to various regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and the tropics. Methods: For this purpose, samples of a larger and ongoing clinical trial (ethical approval codes: CHRPE/AP/525/17 and 325/21; trial registration number ISRCTN14042737) were collected from 222 individuals from endemic areas of Ghana, along with comprehensive clinical and demographic data. The samples include LF patients (<i>n</i> = 222) grouped according to their Lymphoedema (LE) stages, as well as COVID-19 vaccinated (<i>n</i> = 81) and non-vaccinated individuals (<i>n</i> = 141). All vaccinated participants received the COVID-19 vaccine ChAdOx1-S (also known as Vaxzevria) developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZenca. The expressions of SARS-CoV-2 and filarial-specific antibodies (IgG, IgA) were accessed using ELISA, while Luminex-based immunoassays were employed to measure the expression of SARS-CoV-2 variant-specific neutralizing antibodies. The interplay between vaccine responses and demographic factors was analyzed using group comparisons with the Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The results indicate that a remarkable portion of unvaccinated individuals (56% IgA seropositive, 39% IgG seropositive) developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 despite no confirmed infection. Notably, the study identified a robust antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination, which was independent of the degree of LF pathology or parasitic status. An important observation was the reduced SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in individuals seropositive for <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.0264), highlighting an interaction between roundworm infection and COVID-19. Conclusions: The study concludes that the ChAdOx1-S COVID-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca) triggers a strong immune response in LF patients; however, filarial and/or soil-transmitted helminth seropositivity might influence the COVID-19 infection-induced response. These findings emphasize the complexity of infectious disease dynamics in co-infected populations and the need to decipher parasite-induced immunomodulatory mechanisms on COVID-19 vaccination.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/3/312COVID-19 vaccinationSARS-CoV-2 seroprevalencelymphatic filariasisimmune responseco-infection<i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> |
| spellingShingle | Julia Meyer Jennifer Nadal Linda Batsa Debrah Alexander Yaw Debrah Jubin Osei-Mensah Derrick Adu Mensah Patricia Jebett Korir Janina M. Kuehlwein Ute Klarmann-Schulz Achim Hoerauf Tomabu Adjobimey Robust COVID-19 Vaccine Responses Despite Filarial Co-Infection: Insights from a Lymphatic Filariasis Cohort in Ghana Vaccines COVID-19 vaccination SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence lymphatic filariasis immune response co-infection <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> |
| title | Robust COVID-19 Vaccine Responses Despite Filarial Co-Infection: Insights from a Lymphatic Filariasis Cohort in Ghana |
| title_full | Robust COVID-19 Vaccine Responses Despite Filarial Co-Infection: Insights from a Lymphatic Filariasis Cohort in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Robust COVID-19 Vaccine Responses Despite Filarial Co-Infection: Insights from a Lymphatic Filariasis Cohort in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Robust COVID-19 Vaccine Responses Despite Filarial Co-Infection: Insights from a Lymphatic Filariasis Cohort in Ghana |
| title_short | Robust COVID-19 Vaccine Responses Despite Filarial Co-Infection: Insights from a Lymphatic Filariasis Cohort in Ghana |
| title_sort | robust covid 19 vaccine responses despite filarial co infection insights from a lymphatic filariasis cohort in ghana |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccination SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence lymphatic filariasis immune response co-infection <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/3/312 |
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