Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in fully vaccinated individuals are considered a consequence of waning immunity. Serum antibodies represent the most measurable outcome of vaccine-induced B cell memory. When antibodies decline, memory B cells are expected to persist and perform their function, preventing clinical disease. We investigated whether BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine induces durable and functional B cell memory in vivo against SARS-CoV-2 3, 6, and 9 months after the second dose in a cohort of health care workers (HCWs). While we observed physiological decline of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, memory B cells persist and increase until 9 months after immunization. HCWs with breakthrough infections had no signs of waning immunity. In 3–4 days, memory B cells responded to SARS-CoV-2 infection by producing high levels of specific antibodies in the serum and anti-Spike IgA in the saliva. Antibodies to the viral nucleoprotein were produced with the slow kinetics typical of the response to a novel antigen.
Persistent B cell memory after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is functional during breakthrough infections / Terreri, S.; Piano Mortari, E.; Vinci, M. R.; Russo, C.; Alteri, C.; Albano, C.; Colavita, F.; Gramigna, G.; Agrati, C.; Linardos, G.; Coltella, L.; Colagrossi, L.; Deriu, G.; Ciofi Degli Atti, M.; Rizzo, C.; Scarsella, M.; Brugaletta, R.; Camisa, V.; Santoro, A.; Roscilli, G.; Pavoni, E.; Muzi, A.; Magnavita, N.; Scutari, R.; Villani, A.; Raponi, M.; Locatelli, F.; Perno, C. F.; Zaffina, S.; Carsetti, R.. - In: CELL HOST & MICROBE. - ISSN 1931-3128. - 30:3(2022), pp. 400-408.e4. [10.1016/j.chom.2022.01.003]
Persistent B cell memory after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is functional during breakthrough infections
Piano Mortari E.;Russo C.;Albano C.;Colavita F.;Gramigna G.;Linardos G.;Coltella L.;Deriu G.;Santoro A.;Roscilli G.;Scutari R.;Villani A.;Raponi M.;Locatelli F.;
2022
Abstract
Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in fully vaccinated individuals are considered a consequence of waning immunity. Serum antibodies represent the most measurable outcome of vaccine-induced B cell memory. When antibodies decline, memory B cells are expected to persist and perform their function, preventing clinical disease. We investigated whether BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine induces durable and functional B cell memory in vivo against SARS-CoV-2 3, 6, and 9 months after the second dose in a cohort of health care workers (HCWs). While we observed physiological decline of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, memory B cells persist and increase until 9 months after immunization. HCWs with breakthrough infections had no signs of waning immunity. In 3–4 days, memory B cells responded to SARS-CoV-2 infection by producing high levels of specific antibodies in the serum and anti-Spike IgA in the saliva. Antibodies to the viral nucleoprotein were produced with the slow kinetics typical of the response to a novel antigen.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
