Increase in HIV reservoir and T cell immune response after CoronaVac vaccination in people living with HIV

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Virology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• CoronaVac, an inactivated vaccine, is widely used for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention.
• Understanding the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir and immune cell dynamics in people living with HIV (PLWHs) is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of CoronaVac vaccination on the HIV reservoir.
• To analyze changes in T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires following CoronaVac administration in PLWHs.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples were collected from 15 PLWHs after receiving at least two doses of CoronaVac.
• Assessed cell-associated HIV RNA (CA HIV RNA) and HIV DNA levels.
• Analyzed T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire profiles, including diversity indices, clonotype overlap, and COVID-19-specific T cell responses.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in CA HIV RNA was observed at 2 and 12 weeks post-second dose compared to baseline.
• TCRβ repertoire diversity indices (Shannon, Pielou's evenness, Hvj) showed a slight increase post-vaccination.
• The proportion of overlapping TCRβ clonotypes and the breadth/depth of COVID-19-specific T cells increased after vaccination.

Conclusions:

• CoronaVac vaccination led to an initial increase in the HIV reservoir and enhanced TCR repertoire diversity in PLWHs.
• The study observed an expansion in the depth and breadth of COVID-19-specific T-cell clones.
• Findings offer insights into the immunological effects of COVID-19 vaccination in the context of HIV infection.