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COVID-19: S-Peptide RBD 484–508 Induces IFN-γ T-Cell Response in Naïve-to-Infection and Unvaccinated Subjects with Close Contact with SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients

Authors :
Michela Murdocca
Gennaro Citro
Eleonora Centanini
Rosalinda Giannini
Andrea Latini
Federica Centofanti
Eva Piano Mortari
Dario Cocciadiferro
Antonio Novelli
Sergio Bernardini
Giuseppe Novelli
Federica Sangiuolo
Source :
Viruses, Vol 15, Iss 7, p 1417 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Despite the availability on the market of different anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, there are still unanswered questions on whether they can stimulate long-lasting protection. A deep understanding of adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is important for optimizing both vaccine development and pandemic control measures. Among cytokines secreted by lymphocytes in response to viral infection, IFN-γ plays a pivotal role both in innate and adaptive immunity. In this study, we report on 28 naïve-to-SARS-Cov-2-infection and unvaccinated subjects, having reported a close and prolonged contact with COVID-19-positive patients. Samples were tested for defective genetic variants in interferon pathway genes by whole exome sequencing and anti-IFN autoantibodies production was investigated. Subject T-cells were cultured and infected with pseudotype particles bearing the S proteins and in parallel stimulated with two S-peptides designed on the RBD region of the spike protein. Our results showed that one of these peptides, RBD 484–508, induces a significant increase in IFN-γ gene expression and protein production in T-cells, comparable to those obtained in cells infected by SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus. This work deepens our understanding of immune response and highlights the selected peptide as a reasonable approach to induce broad, potent, and variant concern-independent T-cell responses.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19994915
Volume :
15
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Viruses
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.f3f643aeeb94addb118c161379a2cd0
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/v15071417