Epitope Mapping of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Antibodies in Vaccinated Kidney Transplant Recipients Reveals Poor Spike Coverage Compared to Healthy Controls
Date:
05/15/2024
Citation:
Karaba AH, Morgenlander WR, Johnston TS, Hage C, Pekosz A, Durand CM, Segev DL, Robien MA, Heeger PS, Larsen CP, Blankson JN, Werbel WA, Larman HB, Tobian AAR. Epitope Mapping of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Antibodies in Vaccinated Kidney Transplant Recipients Reveals Poor Spike Coverage Compared to Healthy Controls. J Infect Dis. 2024 May 15;229(5):1366-1371. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiad534. PMID: 38019656; PMCID: PMC11095532.
Abstract
Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) develop decreased antibody titers to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination compared to healthy controls (HCs), but whether KTRs generate antibodies against key epitopes associated with neutralization is unknown. Plasma from 78 KTRs from a clinical trial of third doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and 12 HCs underwent phage display immunoprecipitation and sequencing (PhIP-Seq) to map antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2. KTRs had lower antibody reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 than HCs, but KTRs and HCs recognized similar epitopes associated with neutralization. Thus, epitope gaps in antibody breadth of KTRs are unlikely responsible for decreased efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in this immunosuppressed population. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT04969263.