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Determination of the SARS-CoV-2 specific immune response

AG Speer

September 8, 2021

At the end of December 2019, the outbreak of a new lung disease with a then still unknown cause was described in Wuhan, China, followed by the first case of COVID-19 infection in Germany on January 27, 2020. Since then, the pandemic has continued to spread intercontinentally and continues to occupy us in everyday clinical practice. The rapid development of safe and effective vaccines is an important pillar in the fight against the pandemic. As patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, in particular dialysis patients and kidney transplant patients, are among the patient groups at particular risk of developing severe COVID-19, these patient groups were prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination in a timely manner.

As part of clinical observational studies, we are currently investigating the vaccination response to COVID-19 vaccination in dialysis patients, kidney transplant patients and patients with impaired kidney function due to an autoimmune disease.

Three weeks after each vaccination, we determine SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies, test for the neutralizing effect of the antibodies and also for neutralization against variants of concern. Based on our study data, we have already been able to show that the vaccination response is reduced in dialysis patients (Speer C, CJASN, 2021). With low antibody titres after COVID-19 vaccination, protection against newly emerging variants of concern, such as the British (B.1.1.7; alpha) or South African (B.1.351; beta) variant, is also limited (Speer C, Kidney International 2020). The third COVID-19 vaccination has now been approved for at-risk groups. It remains to be seen to what extent a third vaccination can induce a possible vaccination response in previous vaccine failures (non-responders). Through our studies, we provide important real-time data on vaccination response in high-risk collectives and want to contribute to the best possible protection of our patients by individualizing the vaccination strategy, for example in non-responders.

 

Project management

PD Dr. med. Claudius Speer

Dr. med. Louise Benning

+49 6221 9112 0

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Persons involved

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Paul Schnitzler, Department of Virology, part of the Center for Infectiology

Prof. Dr. Ralf Bartenschlager, Molecular Virology, part of the Center for Infectiology

Prof. Dr. med. Caner Süsal, Transplantation Immunology

Prof. Dr. med. Burkhard Tönshoff, General Pediatrics, Neuropaediatrics, Metabolism, Gastroenterology, Nephrology

Prof. Dr. med. Matthias Schaier

Prof. Dr. med. Hanns-Martin Lorenz, Section of Rheumatology

Partner / Cooperation

Department of Virology at Heidelberg University Hospital

Department of Transplantation Immunology at Heidelberg University Hospital

Department of General Pediatrics, Neuropediatrics, Metabolism, Gastroenterology, Nephrology of Heidelberg University Hospital

Section of Rheumatology at Heidelberg University Hospital