Abstract
Emerging evidence demonstrates a connection between microbiome composition and suboptimal response to vaccines (vaccine hyporesponse). Harnessing the interaction between microbes and the immune system could provide novel therapeutic strategies for improving vaccine response. Currently we do not fully understand the mechanisms and dynamics by which the microbiome influences vaccine response. Using both mouse and non-human primate models, we report that short-term oral treatment with a single antibiotic (vancomycin) results in disruption of the gut microbiome and this correlates with a decrease in systemic levels of antigen-specific IgG upon subsequent parenteral vaccination. We further show that recovery of microbial diversity before vaccination prevents antibiotic-induced vaccine hyporesponse, and that the antigen specific IgG response correlates with the recovery of microbiome diversity. RNA-sequencing analysis of small intestine, spleen, whole blood, and secondary lymphoid organs from antibiotic treated mice revealed a dramatic impact on the immune system, and a muted inflammatory signature is correlated with loss of bacteria from Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Clostridiaceae. These results suggest that microbially modulated immune pathways may be leveraged to promote vaccine response and will inform future vaccine design and development strategies.
Importance Antibiotic-induced gut microbiome disruption has been linked to reduced vaccine efficacy. Despite these observations, there remains a knowledge gap in the specific mechanisms by which antibiotics and the gut microbiome influence vaccine efficacy. We aim to contribute to the field’s growing mechanistic understanding by presenting a detailed analysis of antibiotic treatment and recovery as it relates to vaccine response and the microbiome. Using animal models, we show that short-term antibiotic treatment prior to vaccination results in diminished vaccine-specific immune responses, and that these are correlated with specific microbiome signatures. We also demonstrate the converse, in which gut microbiome recovery can result in improved vaccine response. We further reveal that antibiotics can significantly alter multiple relevant immune pathways and this alteration in immune tone may contribute to the vaccine hyporesponse. We expect our findings will enable the continued prosecution of the role of the microbiome in modulating the host immune system.
Competing Interest Statement
All authors that are/were employees of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA and may hold stocks and/or stock options in Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
