Children with perinatally acquired HIV exhibit distinct immune responses to 4CMenB vaccine

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Children with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) exhibit suboptimal immune responses, necessitating tailored vaccination strategies.
• Group B meningococcal (4CMB) vaccines are crucial for preventing invasive meningococcal disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety and immunogenicity of a 4-component group B meningococcal vaccine in children with PHIV on antiretroviral therapy.
• To compare immune responses between children with PHIV and healthy controls (HCs).

Main Methods:

• Administered two doses of 4CMB vaccine to children with PHIV and HCs.
• Assessed antibody responses using human serum bactericidal antibody (hSBA) assay and IgG titers.
• Investigated B cell populations and gene expression via flow cytometry and real-time PCR.

Main Results:

• The vaccine demonstrated a good safety profile in both groups.
• Children with PHIV showed reduced immunogenicity compared to HCs.
• PHIV group exhibited altered B cell subset distribution and distinct gene expression patterns post-vaccination.

Conclusions:

• While 4CMB vaccination is safe and immunogenic in children with PHIV, their immune response is less robust than in HCs.
• PHIV is associated with unique immune signatures following vaccination, impacting B cell subsets.
• Long-term vaccine-induced immunity maintenance in PHIV requires further investigation.