Robust SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies sustained through 6 months post XBB.1.5 mRNA vaccine booster

• Published in: Cell reports. Medicine Vol. 5; no. 9; p. 101701
• Main Authors: Wang, Qian, Mellis, Ian A., Guo, Yicheng, Gherasim, Carmen, Valdez, Riccardo, Gordon, Aubree, Ho, David D., Liu, Lihong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 17.09.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Advanced Basic Science; Antibodies, Neutralizing - blood; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; antibody decay rate; COVID-19; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 - virology; COVID-19 Vaccines - administration & dosage; COVID-19 Vaccines - immunology; Female; Humans; Immunization, Secondary; Male; Middle Aged; mRNA Vaccines - immunology; Neutralization Tests; neutralizing antibody responses; Omicron subvariant JN.1; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - immunology; XBB.1.5 monovalent mRNA vaccine; COVID-19; XBB.1.5 monovalent mRNA vaccine; antibody decay rate; SARS-CoV-2; neutralizing antibody responses; Omicron subvariant JN.1
• ISSN: 2666-3791; 2666-3791
• DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101701

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-neutralizing antibodies are substantially expanded 1 month after a shot of XBB.1.5 monovalent mRNA vaccine (XBB.1.5 MV) booster, but the durability of this response remains unknown. Here, we address this question by performing neutralization assays on four viral variants (D614G, BA.5, XBB.1.5, and JN.1) using sera from participants obtained at ∼1 month, ∼3 months, and ∼6 months post an XBB.1.5 MV booster. Our findings indicate that the resulting neutralizing antibody titers are robust and generally remain at stable levels for the study period, similar to those following XBB infection. Importantly, this durability of neutralizing antibody titers contrasts with the decline observed after a booster of the original monovalent or BA.5 bivalent mRNA vaccine. Our results are in line with the recent national data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showing that the efficacy against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection is sustained for up to 4 months after an XBB.1.5 MV booster. [Display omitted] •XBB.1.5 monovalent (MV) booster elicits neutralizing titers up to 6 months after dose•Titers wane more slowly after XBB.1.5 MV booster than after BA.5 bivalent booster•XBB.1.5 MV booster partially mitigates immunological imprinting Wang and colleagues find that the XBB.1.5 vaccine booster yields robust serum SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing titers that are stable for ∼6 months, in contrast to results after a booster with previous vaccines but consistent with recent national data showing protection against symptomatic infection lasts for 4 months after the updated vaccine booster.