Unsuppressed HIV infection impairs T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and abrogates T cell cross-recognition.

ABSTRACT: In some instances, unsuppressed HIV has been associated with severe COVID-19 disease, but the mechanisms underpinning this susceptibility are still unclear. Here, we assessed the impact of HIV infection on the quality and epitope specificity of SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses in the first wave and second wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in South Africa. Flow cytometry was used to measure T cell responses following peripheral blood mononuclear cell stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 peptide pools. Culture expansion was used to determine T cell immunodominance hierarchies and to assess potential SARS-CoV-2 escape from T cell recognition. HIV-seronegative individuals had significantly greater CD4⁺ T cell responses against the Spike protein compared to the viremic people living with HIV (PLWH). A

SUBMITTER: Nkosi T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9355563 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature