Persistent B cell memory after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is functional during breakthrough infections.
Cell Host Microbe
; 30(3): 400-408.e4, 2022 03 09.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35134333
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.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Cell Host Microbe
Journal subject:
MICROBIOLOGIA
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy