Genomics and Epigenomics of the Elderly Response to Pneumococcal Vaccines

This is a prospective, single-site, randomized, then open-label study designed to develop a detailed transcriptional and epigenetic profile of the immune response to pneumococcal vaccination with conjugated and non-conjugated polysaccharide vaccines in the senescent immune system of older adults. In this study, 40 healthy adults ages 60 and older that have never received pneumococcal vaccination, will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive Prevnar-13 (Pfizer), a conjugated 13-valent vaccine or Pneumovax 23 (Merck), a non-conjugated 23-valent vaccine. Following randomized assignment of vaccine, the study will be open-label. Six (6) study visits will occur over about 70 days, with an optional 7th visit for participants to receive a second vaccination with the other pneumococcal vaccine one to two years after randomization. Participants will provide blood samples for transcriptional, epigenetic and biological analyses pre- and post-vaccination.

This prospective, single-site, randomized, then open-label study is designed to develop a detailed transcriptional and epigenetic profile of the immune response to pneumococcal vaccination with conjugated and non-conjugated polysaccharide vaccines in the senescent immune system of older adults. This knowledge may lead to development of more effective vaccines through increased understanding of the effects of immunosenescence on mechanisms of immune response to pneumococcal vaccination in older adults elderly. Forty (40) healthy adults ages 60 and older that have never received pneumococcal vaccination, will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive Prevnar-13 (Pfizer), a conjugated 13-valent vaccine or Pneumovax 23 (Merck), a non-conjugated 23-valent vaccine. Following randomized assignment of vaccine, the study will be open-label. The study sample will be drawn from the population of healthy older participants in the catchment area of UConn Health in Farmington, CT. The first six (6) study visits are planned to occur over 67 days at Days -7, 0, 1, 10, 28 (±3 d) and 60 (± 5d). Participants will provide blood samples for transcriptional, epigenetic and biological analyses pre- and post-vaccination. One to two years after receiving the randomly-assigned vaccination, participants may opt to receive administration of a second pneumococcal vaccine with the vaccine that they did not receive by random assignment at Visit 2 (Day 0). This second vaccine will be provided at no charge to the participant. Administration of this vaccine will occur at an optional Visit 7 for participants who choose to receive the second vaccine and will be scheduled at the participant's convenience one-two years after receiving the first pneumococcal vaccine. If the participant opts to receive the second vaccine within the study and attends optional Visit 7, blood samples for genomic and biologic analysis will be collected at the visit.

Randomized assignment to group will be in a 1:1 ratio utilizing block randomization in blocks of 10 to receive Prevnar-13 or Pneumovax 23. Following randomized assignment of vaccine, the study will be open-label.

Prevnar 13 (Pneumococcal 13valent Conj Vaccine Diphtheria CRM197 Protein) will be administered at the single 0.5 ml dose, by intramuscular injection with routine clinical care.

Pneumovax 23 (Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent) will be administered at the single 0.5ml dose, by intramuscular injection with routine clinical care.

One to two years after receiving the randomly-assigned vaccination, participants may opt to receive administration of a second pneumococcal vaccine with Pneumovax 23

One to two years after receiving the randomly-assigned vaccination, participants may opt to receive administration of a second pneumococcal vaccine with Prevnar-13

To vaccinate healthy older participants with pneumococcal vaccines, collect longitudinal blood samples and assess pneumococcal-specific antibody responses. The unit of measurement used is log2 titer defined as a measure to quantify the overall strength of responses using the sum of all serotype responses. Data shown below is from longitudinal study timepoints (pre and post) first pneumococcal vaccine. At study endpoint, Visit 7, a second pneumococcal vaccine was administered and no further sample collection visits were conducted as proposed in the study design.

Fold change between the baseline and post first vaccination titers was calculated for each pneumococcal vaccine cohort. Data shown below is from longitudinal study timepoints (pre and post) first pneumococcal vaccine. At study endpoint, Visit 7, a second pneumococcal vaccine was administered and no further sample collection visits were conducted as proposed in the study design.

RNA-seq and ATAC-seq to enable quantitative assessment of both coding RNA's and ncsRNA's as well as to resolve the epigenetic landscape of immune cells in the context of vaccine responses. We assessed the number of genes upregulated post first vaccination [PCV13 or PPSV23]. Data shown below is from longitudinal study timepoints (pre and post) first pneumococcal vaccine. At study endpoint, Visit 7, a second pneumococcal vaccine was administered and no further sample collection visits were conducted as proposed in the study design.

Measure of functional status of immune cells in older participants following administration of a single pneumococcal vaccine, Prevnar13 or Pneumovax23, at baseline and 10 days post first vaccination. Data shown below is from longitudinal study timepoints (pre and post) first pneumococcal vaccine. At study endpoint, Visit 7, a second pneumococcal vaccine was administered and no further sample collection visits were conducted as proposed in the study design.

Inclusion Criteria: Able and willing to provide written informed consent Male or Female, 60 years of age or older Willing to receive pneumococcal vaccination with Prevnar 13 (Wyeth/ Pfizer) or Pneumovax 23 (Merck), as randomly assigned. Available to attend 6 study visits over 67 days (Visit 7 is optional at Day 365-720). Exclusion Criteria: Previous pneumococcal vaccination with Prevnar 13 or Pneumovax 23. History of anaphylactic/anaphylactoid or severe allergic reaction to any component of Pneumovax 23, Prevnar 13 or any diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine. Established diagnosis of diabetes History of receiving Zostavax (shingles vaccine) within previous 4 weeks. (Study entry may be delayed to satisfy a 28-day interval between vaccinations) Known history of any of the following co-morbid conditions: Malignancy (participants without a recurrence in the last 5 years will be allowed) Congestive Heart Failure Cardiovascular Disease (unstable ≤ 6 months*) Kidney disease Renal failure Impaired hepatic function Autoimmune disease such as: Rheumatoid Arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Inflammatory Bowel Disease, etc. Use of medicines during past 6 months known to alter immune response such as high-dose corticosteroids HIV, AIDS or other Immunodeficiency Recent (≤ 3 months) trauma or surgery Current substance and/or alcohol abuse * Unstable disease is defined as a change in therapy or hospitalization for worsening disease.

Participants will provide or decline consent within the ICF for sharing of their randomly recoded (new code that is different than the study code) genomic data in public and/or controlled access scientific databases. The study database will include a field for whether consent for genomic data sharing was provided or declined by the participant and if consent provided was for public and/or limited access databases. This information will be included in the dataset so that it can be provided to dbGAP (NIH database of Genotypes and Phenotypes) at the conclusion of the study to ensure that the wishes of the participant regarding use of their data and samples are respected. Participants will provide or decline consent for sharing of coded samples that remain after study analysis is completed with other researchers and to be used in other studies. This information will be included as a variable in the coded dataset provided for analysis.