Browsing by Author "Mbele, Nkululeko J."

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    T‑cell responses to ancestral SARS‑CoV‑2 and Omicron variant among unvaccinated pregnant and postpartum women living with and without HIV in South Africa
    (Nature Research, 2024-09) Madhi, Shabir A.; McMahon, William C.; Kwatra, Gaurav; Izu, Alane; Jones, Stephanie A.; Mbele, Nkululeko J.; Jafta, Nwabisa; Lala, Rushil; Shalekof, Sharon; Tiemessen, Caroline T.; Nunes, Marta C.
    SARS-CoV-2 cell-mediated immunity remains understudied during pregnancy in unvaccinated Black African women living with HIV (WLWH) from low- and middle-income countries. We investigated SARS-CoV-2-specifc T-cell responses 1 month following infection in 24 HIV-uninfected women and 15 WLWH at any stage during pregnancy or postpartum. The full-length spike (FLS) glycoprotein and nucleocapsid (N) protein of wild-type (WT) SARS-CoV-2, as well as mutated spike protein regions found in the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) were targeted by flow cytometry. WT-specific CD4+and CD8+T cells elicited similar FLS- and N-specific responses in HIV-uninfected women and WLWH. SARS-CoV 2-specifc T-lymphocytes were predominantly TNF-α monofunctional in pregnant and postpartum women living with and without HIV, with fever cells producing either IFN-γ or IL-2. Furthermore, T-cell responses were unaffected by Omicron-specific spike mutations as similar responses between Omicron and the ancestral virus were detected for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Our results collectively demonstrate comparable T-cell responses between WLWH on antiretroviral therapy and HIV-uninfected pregnant and postpartum women who were naïve to Covid-19 vaccination. Additionally, we show that T cells from women infected with the ancestral virus, Beta variant (B.1.351), or Delta variant (B.1.617.2) can cross-recognize Omicron, suggesting an overall preservation of T-cell immunity.