ASSESSMENT OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE OF THE UPPER AIRWAYS OF ELDERLY VACCINATED FOR COVID-19

• Grant number: 22/10667-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: André Luis Lacerda Bachi
• Grantee: Guilherme Farias Apolonio
• Host Institution: Universidade de Santo Amaro (UNISA). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The new virus called SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the coronavirus disease-19 or COVID-19, is the causal agent of the current pandemic that the world is still facing. As a respiratory virus, it is known that the infection starts in the upper respiratory tract and that, already there, it can cause significant reactions and responses to the defense mechanisms existing in this area. Another widely accepted information on the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is that advanced age is one of the risk factors for this disease, due to the occurrence of a phenomenon known as immunosenescence, which translates into a significant drop in immune activities associated with aging. It is worth noting that one of the most evident deleterious effects of immunosenescence is associated with the lower response of the elderly to vaccination and that, to date, it is still fully established whether vaccination for COVID-19 can generate greater protection of the airway mucosa in this disease. population. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on the upper airway immune response of the elderly. For this, 60-70 healthy elderly people, of both sexes, who are immunized for COVID-19, will be invited to participate in this study. Saliva samples will be obtained before and 30 days after administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. In the saliva samples obtained, the concentrations of secretory IgA and IgG, neutralizing antibodies, in addition to the microbial peptides lactoferrin, lysozyme and beta-defensins will be determined.