Correlation of gut microbiota and metabolic functions with the antibody response to the BBIBP-CorV vaccine
Bo Tang, Li Tang, Wei He, Xingyu Jiang, C. Hu, Yicheng Li, Yang Zhang, Kun Pang, Yuanyuan Lei, Shengpeng Li, Shuang Liu, Sumin Wang, Min Jae Yang, Zhongjun Li, Fangqing Zhao, Shiming Yang
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that gut microbiota may play a key role in vaccination immunity. Here, we investigate whether the human gut microbiota and metabolic function correlate with the BBIBP-CorV vaccine response. A total of 207 participants who received the BBIBP-CorV vaccine are enrolled. The gut microbiome and metabolic functions are investigated using metagenomic sequencing and metabolomic assays. We find that BBIBP-CorV vaccination is accompanied by altered microbiome composition and functional pathways, and the gut microbiome and its functional profiles correlate with the vaccine response. The levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are much higher in the high antibody response group compared to the low response group, and several SCFAs display a positive correlation with the antibody response. Our study highlights that the gut microbiome and its function is associated with the BBIBP-CorV vaccine response, providing evidence for further exploration of microbiome modulation to improve COVID-19 vaccine efficacy.