SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine induces robust specific and cross-reactive IgG and unequal neutralizing antibodies in naive and previously infected people

• Published in: Cell reports (Cambridge) 2022-02, Vol.38 (5), p.110336-110336, Article 110336
• Main Authors: Narowski, Tara M., Raphel, Kristin, Adams, Lily E., Huang, Jenny, Vielot, Nadja A., Jadi, Ramesh, de Silva, Aravinda M., Baric, Ralph S., Lafleur, John E., Premkumar, Lakshmanane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Antibody Formation; antibody response; Coronavirus - immunology; correlates of protection; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines - administration & dosage; COVID-19 Vaccines - immunology; Cross Reactions; human endemic coronavirus; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; infection; mRNA vaccine; mRNA Vaccines - administration & dosage; mRNA Vaccines - immunology; Mutation; neutralization; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; SARS-CoV-2 variants; serostatus determination; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - genetics; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - immunology; Vaccination; Vaccines, Synthetic - administration & dosage; Vaccines, Synthetic - immunology; variability in antibody response
• ISSN: 2211-1247; 2211-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110336

Understanding vaccine-mediated protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical to overcoming the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We investigate mRNA-vaccine-induced antibody responses against the reference strain, seven variants, and seasonal coronaviruses in 168 healthy individuals at three time points: before vaccination, after the first dose, and after the second dose. Following complete vaccination, both naive and previously infected individuals developed comparably robust SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies and variable levels of cross-reactive antibodies to seasonal coronaviruses. However, the strength and frequency of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in naive individuals were lower than in previously infected individuals. After the first vaccine dose, one-third of previously infected individuals lacked neutralizing antibodies; this was improved to one-fifth after the second dose. In all individuals, neutralizing antibody responses against the Alpha and Delta variants were weaker than against the reference strain. Our findings support future tailored vaccination strategies against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants as mRNA-vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies are highly variable among individuals. [Display omitted] •Healthy naive and infected subjects develop robust spike IgG after full vaccination•After the first dose, one-third of previously infected subjects lack neutralization activity•Neutralizing antibodies are variable in previously infected and naive subjects•Neutralizing antibodies against Delta variant are weaker than the reference strain Narowski et al. investigate mRNA-vaccine-induced antibody responses in 168 healthy individuals with longitudinal specimens. After complete vaccination, both previously infected and naive individuals develop comparably robust SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies. However, neutralizing antibody response to vaccination is variable among these individuals, supporting future tailored vaccination strategies against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.