Biomarkers of Trained Immunity Following MMR Vaccination

A sub-study of the CROWN CORONATION Trial (COVID-19 Research Outcomes Worldwide Network for CORONAvirus prevenTION; NCT04333732). The goal of this sub-study is to identify and characterize biomarkers of trained immunity by measuring, in vitro, immune responses to heterologous products, especially virally associated products, in those exposed to MMR vaccine injection compared to those exposed to 0.9% sodium chloride ('normal saline') placebo injection. A secondary objective is comparison of SARS-CoV-2 neutralization assays between MMR and placebo comparison groups around 60 to 90 days after the last SARS-CoV-2 specific vaccine injection. All participants are randomly assigned to MMR or placebo injection at baseline, followed by SARS-CoV-2 specific vaccination. Blood is drawn around 60 to 90 days after the last SARS-CoV-2 specific vaccine injection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC) will be isolated from samples and stimulated with heterologous products (for example; Roswell Park Memorial Institute medium \[RPMI; negative control\], MMR \[the vaccine itself as specific stimulus\], severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 \[SARS-CoV-2; heat inactivated\], influenza virus \[heat inactivated\], toll-like receptor 3 ligand \[TLR3 ligand; poly I:C\], toll-like receptor 7/8 ligand \[TLR7/8 ligand; R848\], toll-like receptor 4 ligand \[TLR4 ligand; lipopolysaccharide (LPS)\]). Supernatants will be assayed by multiplex luminex protein assay at 24 hr (for example; type I interferons \[IFN\], interleukin \[IL\]-1β , IL-6, tumor necrosis factor \[TNF\]-α) and after 5 days (for example; IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-22, IL-10). This process of testing stimulus-response will be conducted on both the baseline and day 30 samples, collected from both the MMR and Placebo groups. Neutralization assay will be conducted on all samples using wild-type SARS-CoV-2. Measles IgG titres will be measured on all samples. Measles IgG titres will be used for sensitivity analysis.

Inclusion/ Exclusion Criteria: Prospective participant must already be enrolled into the CROWN CORONATION trial at the sub-study location. Refer to NCT04333732 for list of inclusion / exclusion criteria for the study population.