Host Predictors of Broadly Cross-Reactive Antibodies Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Variants of Concern Differ Between Infection and Vaccination.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or vaccination there is significant variability between individuals in protective antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2, and within individuals against different virus variants. However, host demographic or clinical characteristics that predict variability in cross-reactive antibody levels are not well-described. These data could inform clinicians, researchers, and policymakers on the populations most likely to require vaccine booster shots.

METHODS:

In an institutional review board-approved prospective observational cohort study of staff at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, we identified participants with plasma samples collected after SARS-CoV-2 infection, after mRNA vaccination, and after vaccination following infection, and quantitated immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to the spike receptor binding domain (RBD) from 5 important SARS-CoV-2 variants (Wuhan Hu-1, B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, and B.1.617.2). We used regression models to identify factors that contributed to cross-reactive IgG against 1 or multiple viral variants.

RESULTS:

Following infection, a minority of the cohort generated cross-reactive antibodies, IgG antibodies that bound all tested variants. Those who did had increased disease severity, poor metabolic health, and were of a particular ancestry. Vaccination increased the levels of cross-reactive IgG levels in all populations, including immunocompromised, elderly, and persons with poor metabolic health. Younger people with a healthy weight mounted the highest responses.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings provide important new information on individual antibody responses to infection/vaccination that could inform clinicians on populations that may require follow-on immunization.

• Authors: Li Tang, Sean Cherry, Elaine I Tuomanen, Ericka Kirkpatrick Roubidoux, Chun Yang Lin, Kim J Allison, Ashleigh Gowen, Pamela Freiden, E Kaitlynn Allen, Yin Su, Aditya H Gaur, Jeremie H Estepp, Maureen A McGargill, Florian Krammer, Paul G Thomas, Stacey Schultz-Cherry, Joshua Wolf, St. Jude Investigative Team
• Journal: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Clin Infect Dis) Vol. 75 Issue 1 Pg. e705-e714 (08 24 2022) ISSN: 1537-6591 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34891165 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Neutralizing
• Antibodies, Viral
• Immunoglobulin G
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
• spike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antibodies, Neutralizing
• Antibodies, Viral
• COVID-19 (prevention & control)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• SARS-CoV-2
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
• Vaccination