Coronavirus replicase epitopes induce cross-reactive CD8 T cell responses in SARS-CoV-2-naive people with HIV-1

Schmidt K, Geißler P, Schuster EM, Schülein C, Harrer E, Schönau V, Luber M, Spriewald B, Steininger P, Bergmann S, Enßer A, Schober K, Nganou-Makamdop K, Harrer T (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

iScience Elsevier

Book Volume: 28

Article Number: 111949

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.111949

Abstract

Cross-reactive T cell immunity between common cold coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 may influence COVID-19 susceptibility. To identify cross-reactive CD8 T cell epitopes, we analyzed responses to 21 homologous SARS-CoV-2 replicase peptides in 177 people living with HIV (PLWH) on antiretroviral therapy, of which 133 did not have prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Replicase peptides induced IFN-γ responses in 63% of the SARS-CoV-2-naïve individuals and in 73% of individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2-infection. We could define several cross-reactive epitopes, including the HLA-B∗35:03 restricted CoV-YL8, and characterized a CoV-YL8-specific T cell receptor cloned from a SARS-CoV-2 seronegative individual. Analysis of the association between HLA-I alleles and SARS-CoV-2 infections over a 16-months period revealed that in a cohort of 452 PLWH, HLA-B∗35:03 and C∗07 were underrepresented in the 55 persons with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection while HLA-B∗35:01 and HLA-C∗04 were associated with a higher infection rate. Taken together, our study suggests an HLA-I-mediated effect of common cold coronaviruses on SARS-CoV-2 immunity.

Authors with CRIS profile

Katja Schmidt Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Paulina Geißler Professur für Innere Medizin mit dem Schwerpunkt Immundefizienz Ev-Marie Schuster Institute of Microbiology – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene Christine Schülein Lehrstuhl für Biochemie und Molekulare Medizin Ellen Harrer Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Verena Schönau Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Markus Luber Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie Bernd Spriewald Department of Medicine 5 – Haematology and Oncology Philipp Steininger Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology Armin Enßer Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology Kilian Schober Institute of Microbiology – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene Christiane Krystelle Nganou Makamdop Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology Thomas Harrer Professur für Innere Medizin mit dem Schwerpunkt Immundefizienz

How to cite

APA:

Schmidt, K., Geißler, P., Schuster, E.-M., Schülein, C., Harrer, E., Schönau, V.,... Harrer, T. (2025). Coronavirus replicase epitopes induce cross-reactive CD8 T cell responses in SARS-CoV-2-naive people with HIV-1. iScience, 28(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.111949

MLA:

Schmidt, Katja, et al. "Coronavirus replicase epitopes induce cross-reactive CD8 T cell responses in SARS-CoV-2-naive people with HIV-1." iScience 28.3 (2025).

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