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OBJECTIVE: To gain insight into the different protective mechanisms of approved vaccines, this study focuses on the comparison of humoral and cellular immune responses of five widely used vaccines including ChAdOx1 (AZD1222, AstraZeneca), BNT162b2 (Pfizer), mRNA-1273 (Moderna), BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm), and Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolated plasma from 95 volunteers' blood samples was used to measure anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral and cellular immune responses. Positive controls were recovered patients from COVID-19 (unvaccinated). Specific quantification kits for anti-nucleocapsid IgG, anti-Spike protein IgG, neutralizing antibodies as well as specific SARS-CoV-2 antigens for T-cell activation were used and Spearman correlation and matrix analyses were performed to compare overall immune responses. RESULTS: Nucleocapsid antibodies were significantly higher for the BBIBP-CorV and convalescent group when compared to other vaccines. In contrast, subjects vaccinated with BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 presented significantly higher anti-spike IgG. In fact, 9.1% of convalescent, 4.5% of Gam-COVID-Vac, 28.6% of ChAdOx1, and 12.5% of BBIBP-CorV volunteers did not generate anti-spike IgG. Similarly, a positive correlation was observed after the neutralization assay. T-cell activation studies showed that mRNA-based vaccines induced a T-cell driven immune response in all cases, while 55% of convalescents, 8% of BNT162b1, 12,5% of mRNA-1273, 9% of Gam-COVID-Vac, 57% of ChAdOx1, and 56% of BBIBP-CorV subjects presented no cellular response. Further correlation matrix analyses indicated that anti-spike IgG and neutralizing antibodies production, and T-cell activation follow the same trend after immunization. CONCLUSIONS: RNA-based vaccines induced the most robust adaptive immune activation against SARS-CoV-2 by promoting a significantly higher T-cell response, anti-spike IgG and neutralization levels. Vector-based vaccines protected against the virus at a comparable level to convalescent patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the major health problems that affects cognitive performance, physical capacity, immune status, and reproductive performance. The iron content in 35 food samples (fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices) marketed in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina was determined. The iron content in the fruits and vegetables was determined using FAAS spectrometry, and in the herbs and spices samples by UV/Vis spectrophotometry. Experimentally determined content was: fruits (2.91-39.27 mg kg-1), vegetables (6.33-107 mg kg-1), herbs (135-962 mg kg-1), and spices (59.00-918 mg kg-1). Daily intakes for different plant samples were also calculated. The food samples were arranged by iron concentration in the following descending order: herbs and tea > spices > vegetables > fruits. The results from this study were compared with previously published data. The obtained values are in the area of common values. The iron content and the factors that increase its bioavailability can help in the selection of proper foods to be included in the daily diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]