First Nations peoples who receive the COVID-19 vaccination had a strong immunological response, according to a research.

Lower anti-RBD IgG antibody levels and increased bulk IgG G0 glycosylation levels in First Nations people with comorbidities. a, ELISA showing ancestral RBD IgG in individuals with or without comorbidities (CM or WCM, respectively) at visit 3 (V3, 28 days after vaccination with BNT162b2). FN, First Nations peoples; NI, non-Indigenous cohort. b, Glycan profiling showing bulk IgG without galactose (G0) in individuals with or without comorbidities such as diabetes and renal diseases; data were collected at visit 1 (V1, before vaccination). Credit: Nature Immunology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01508-y

In First Nations peoples, who are more susceptible to respiratory viral infections, immunization against COVID-19 induces an efficient immune response, according to an Australian research.n

The study, which is the first of its type to definitively map the immunological responses induced by a COVID-19 immunization in any First Nations community, was published in Nature Immunology.n

Researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) investigated immunological responses in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous people after receiving the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in collaboration with Menzies School of Health Research.nn

Lead author of the study and Ph.D. candidate at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne’s Wuji Zhang, said the research provides strong evidence that COVID-19 vaccination triggers effective immune responses against the virus in First Nations peoples.n

“We found excellent antibody and T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 in Australian First Nations peoples following COVID-19 vaccination. We saw high levels of antibodies binding to the virus following two vaccine doses,” Zhang said.n

“T cells against the spike protein, which often recognize small sections of the virus and are similar across different variants, were also seen in higher numbers and showed ‘memory signatures’ following vaccination.”n

University of Melbourne Professor Katherine Kedzierska, a Laboratory Head at the Doherty Institute, said the findings are the first to report excellent immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in First Nations peoples.n

“Like other studies on non-Indigenous cohorts, antibody responses against the COVID variants Delta and Omicron were lower compared to the ancestral strain, but were substantially increased following the booster vaccine dose.n

“While the results of the study are encouraging, it also showed that antibody responses are highly affected by comorbidities in Indigenous populations, especially diabetes and renal disease,” Professor Kedzierska said.n

Associate Professor Jane Davies of Menzies School of Health Research said the results confirm the effectiveness of vaccination.n

“Our research should further encourage First Nations communities around the world to get vaccinated and boosted,” Associate Professor Davies said.n

“This work also highlights the crucial importance of being up-to-date with COVID vaccination for individuals with comorbidities, especially diabetes and renal disease.”

More information:
Wuji Zhang et al, Robust and prototypical immune responses toward COVID-19 vaccine in First Nations peoples are impacted by comorbidities, Nature Immunology (2023). www.nature.com/articles/s41590-023-01508-y

Research Briefing: Immunity to COVID after vaccination in First Nations peoples is affected by comorbidities, Nature Immunology (2023). www.nature.com/articles/s41590-023-01524-y

Provided by
The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity