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Exposure to avian coronavirus vaccines is associated with increased levels of SARS-CoV-2-cross-reactive antibodies
  • +14
  • Ozge Ardicli,
  • Tayfun Carli,
  • Pattraporn Satitsuksanoa,
  • Anita Dreher,
  • Alexia Cusini,
  • Sandra Hutter,
  • David Mirer,
  • Beate Rückert,
  • Hulda R. Jonsdottir,
  • Benjamin Weber,
  • Carlo Cervia,
  • Mubeccel Akdis,
  • Onur Boyman,
  • Alexander Eggel,
  • Marie-Charlotte Brüggen,
  • Cezmi Akdis,
  • Willem van de Veen
Ozge Ardicli
Universitat Zurich Schweizerisches Institut fur Allergie- und Asthmaforschung

Corresponding Author:ozgeyilmaz@uludag.edu.tr

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Tayfun Carli
Bursa Uludag Universitesi
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Pattraporn Satitsuksanoa
Universitat Zurich Schweizerisches Institut fur Allergie- und Asthmaforschung
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Anita Dreher
CK-CARE AG
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Alexia Cusini
Division of Infectious Diseases Cantonal Hospital of Grisons Chur Switzerland
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Sandra Hutter
Central Laboratory Cantonal Hospital of Grisons Chur Switzerland
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David Mirer
Universitat Zurich Schweizerisches Institut fur Allergie- und Asthmaforschung
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Beate Rückert
Universitat Zurich Schweizerisches Institut fur Allergie- und Asthmaforschung
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Hulda R. Jonsdottir
Labor Spiez
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Benjamin Weber
Labor Spiez
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Carlo Cervia
UniversitatsSpital Zurich
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Mubeccel Akdis
Universitat Zurich Schweizerisches Institut fur Allergie- und Asthmaforschung
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Onur Boyman
UniversitatsSpital Zurich
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Alexander Eggel
Inselspital Universitatsspital Bern Universitatsklinik fur Rheumatologie Immunologie und Allergologie
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Marie-Charlotte Brüggen
CK-CARE AG
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Cezmi Akdis
Universitat Zurich Schweizerisches Institut fur Allergie- und Asthmaforschung
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Willem van de Veen
Universitat Zurich Schweizerisches Institut fur Allergie- und Asthmaforschung
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Abstract

Background: Although avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and SARS-CoV-2 belong to different genera of the Coronaviridae family, exposure to IBV may result in the development of cross-reactive antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 due to homologous epitopes. We aimed to investigate whether antibody responses to IBV cross-react with SARS-CoV-2 in poultry farm personnel who are occupationally exposed to aerosolized IBV vaccines. Methods: We analyzed sera from poultry farm personnel, COVID-19 patients, and pre-pandemic controls. IgG levels against the SARS-CoV-2 antigens S1, RBD, S2, and N and peptides corresponding to the SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a, N, and S proteins as well as whole virus antigens of the four major S1-genotypes 4/91, IS/1494/06, M41, and D274 of IBV were investigated by in-house ELISAs. Moreover, live-virus neutralization test (VNT) was performed. Results: A subgroup of poultry farm personnel showed elevated levels of specific IgG for all tested SARS-CoV-2 antigens compared to pre-pandemic controls. Moreover, poultry farm personnel, COVID-19 patients, and pre-pandemic controls showed specific IgG antibodies against IBV strains. These antibody titers were higher in long-term vaccine implementers. We observed a strong correlation between IBV-specific IgG and SARS-CoV-2 S1-, RBD-, S2-, and N-specific IgG in poultry farm personnel compared to pre-pandemic controls and COVID-19 patients. However, no neutralization was observed for these cross-reactive antibodies from poultry farm personnel using the VNT. Conclusion: We report here for the first time the detection of cross-reactive IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 antigens in humans exposed to IBV vaccines. These findings have implications for future vaccination strategies and possibly cross-reactive T cell immunity.
17 Mar 2022Submitted to Allergy
17 Mar 2022Submission Checks Completed
17 Mar 2022Assigned to Editor
17 Mar 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
04 Apr 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 Apr 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
28 May 20221st Revision Received
28 May 2022Assigned to Editor
28 May 2022Submission Checks Completed
29 May 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
15 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Jun 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
03 Jul 20222nd Revision Received
04 Jul 2022Submission Checks Completed
04 Jul 2022Assigned to Editor
04 Jul 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
08 Jul 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Jul 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
23 Jul 2022Published in Allergy. 10.1111/all.15441