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

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology Vol. 12; p. 793191
• Main Authors: Tarkowski, Maciej, de Jager, Wilco, Schiuma, Marco, Covizzi, Alice, Lai, Alessia, Gabrieli, Arianna, Corbellino, Mario, Bergna, Annalisa, Ventura, Carla Della, Galli, Massimo, Riva, Agostino, Antinori, Spinello
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 17.12.2021
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; bead; BNT162 Vaccine - administration & dosage; BNT162 Vaccine - immunology; Chlorocebus aethiops; coronavirus; COVID-19; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - virology; Female; fluorescence; Humans; Immunoassay - methods; Immunoglobulin A - blood; Immunoglobulin A - immunology; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Immunoglobulin Isotypes - blood; Immunoglobulin Isotypes - immunology; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Immunoglobulin M - immunology; Immunology; Male; Middle Aged; multiplex immunoassay; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; SARS-CoV-2 - physiology; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - immunology; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - metabolism; Vaccination - methods; Vero Cells; COVID-19; multiplex immunoassay; SARS-CoV-2; fluorescence; bead; coronavirus; neutralization assay; serological assay
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.793191

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. 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. 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 2 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. 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.