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., et al.. - 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.
