Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40083550›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2025

Gut microbiota is associated with persistence of longer-term BNT162b2 vaccine immunogenicity.

Ho Yu Ng, Yunshi Liao, Ching Lung Cheung, Ruiqi Zhang, Kwok Hung Chan, Wai-Kay Seto, Wai K Leung, Ivan F N Hung, Tommy T Y Lam, Ka Shing Cheung

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Ho Yu NgLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yunshi LiaoState Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ching Lung CheungDepartment of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ruiqi ZhangDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Kwok Hung ChanDepartment of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Wai-Kay SetoDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Wai K LeungDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ivan F N HungDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Tommy T Y LamState Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ka Shing CheungDepartment of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: BNT162b2 immunogenicity wanes with time and we investigated association between gut microbiota and longer-term immunogenicity. Methods: This cohort study prospectively recruited adult BNT162b2 two-dose recipients from three vaccination centers in Hong Kong. Blood samples were collected at baseline and day 180 after first dose, and tested for neutralizing antibodies (NAb) against receptor-binding domain (RBD) of wild type SARS-CoV-2 virus using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Shotgun DNA metagenomic sequencing was performed to characterize baseline stool microbiome. Baseline metabolites were measured by gas and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS). Primary outcome was persistent high NAb response (defined as top 25% of NAb level) at day 180. Putative bacterial species and metabolic pathways were identified using linear discriminant analysis [LDA] effect size analysis. Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for clinical factors was used to derive adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of outcome with bacterial species and metabolites. Results: Of 242 subjects (median age: 50.2 years [IQR:42.5-55.6]; male:85 [35.1%]), 61 (25.2%) were high-responders while 33 (13.6%) were extreme-high responders (defined as NAb≥200AU/mL). None had COVID-19 at end of study. Conclusion: Certain gut bacterial species, metabolic pathways and metabolites associate with longer-term COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity.

Indexed as

BNT162 VaccineCOVID-19COVID-19 VaccinesGastrointestinal MicrobiomeImmunogenicity, VaccineSARS-CoV-2AdultAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralFemaleHong KongHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralBNT162 VaccineCOVID-19 VaccinesBNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech)COVID-19 vaccinegut microbiotavaccinevaccine immunogenicity

Identifiers

PMID40083550
PMCPMC11903479

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.