Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin Isotypes, and Neutralization Activity Against Viral Variants, According to BNT162b2-Vaccination and Infection History.

Abstract

Purpose:

To compare SARS-CoV-2 antigen-specific antibody production and plasma neutralizing capacity against B.1 wild-type-like strain, and Gamma/P.1 and Delta/B.1.617.2 variants-of-concern, in subjects with different Covid-19 disease and vaccination histories.

Methods:

Adult subjects were: 1) Unvaccinated/hospitalized for Covid-19; 2) Covid-19-recovered followed by one BNT162b2 vaccine dose; and 3) Covid-19-naïve/2-dose BNT162b2 vaccinated. Multiplex Luminex® immunoassays measured IgG, IgA, and IgM plasma levels against SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD), spike-1 (S), and nucleocapsid proteins. Neutralizing activity was determined in Vero E6 cytopathic assays.

Results:

Maximum anti-RBD IgG levels were similar in Covid-19‑recovered individuals 8‒10 days after single-dose vaccination and in Covid-19-naïve subjects 7 days after 2nd vaccine dosing; both groups had ≈2‑fold higher anti-RBD IgG levels than Unvaccinated/Covid-19 subjects tracked through 2 weeks post-symptom onset. Anti-S IgG expression patterns were similar to RBD within each group, but with lower signal strengths. Viral antigen-specific IgA and IgM levels were more variable than IgG patterns. Anti-nucleocapsid immunoglobulins were not detected in Covid-19-naïve subjects. Neutralizing activity against the B.1 strain, and Gamma/P.1 and Delta/B.1.617.2 variants, was highest in Covid‑19-recovered/single-dose vaccinated subjects; although neutralization against the Delta variant in this group was only 26% compared to B.1 neutralization, absolute anti-Delta titers suggested maintained protection. Neutralizing titers against the Gamma and Delta variants were 33‒77% and 26‒67%, respectively, versus neutralization against the B.1 strain (100%) in the three groups.

Conclusion:

These findings support SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine usefulness regardless of Covid-19 history, and confirm remarkable protection provided by a single vaccine dose in people who have recovered from Covid-19.

• Authors: Maciej Tarkowski, Wilco de Jager, Marco Schiuma, Alice Covizzi, Alessia Lai, Arianna Gabrieli, Mario Corbellino, Annalisa Bergna, Carla Della Ventura, Massimo Galli, Agostino Riva, Spinello Antinori
• Journal: Frontiers in immunology (Front Immunol) Vol. 12 Pg. 793191 ( 2021) ISSN: 1664-3224 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 34975897 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Tarkowski, de Jager, Schiuma, Covizzi, Lai, Gabrieli, Corbellino, Bergna, Ventura, Galli, Riva and Antinori.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Neutralizing
• Antibodies, Viral
• Immunoglobulin A
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin Isotypes
• Immunoglobulin M
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
• BNT162 Vaccine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Animals
• Antibodies, Neutralizing (immunology)
• Antibodies, Viral (immunology)
• BNT162 Vaccine (administration & dosage, immunology)
• COVID-19 (immunology, virology)
• Chlorocebus aethiops
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoassay (methods)
• Immunoglobulin A (blood, immunology)
• Immunoglobulin G (blood, immunology)
• Immunoglobulin Isotypes (blood, immunology)
• Immunoglobulin M (blood, immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• SARS-CoV-2 (genetics, immunology, physiology)
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus (immunology, metabolism)
• Vaccination (methods)
• Vero Cells