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.

Terreri, S., Piano Mortari, E., Vinci, M. R., Russo, C., Alteri, C., Albano, C., Colavita, F., Gramigna, G., Agrati, C., Linardos, G., Coltella, L., Colagrossi, L., Deriu, G., Ciofi Degli Atti, M., Rizzo, C., Scarsella, M., Brugaletta, R., Camisa, V., Santoro, A., Roscilli, G., Pavoni, E., Muzi, A., Magnavita, N., Scutari, R., Villani, A., Raponi, M., Locatelli, F., Perno, C. F., Zaffina, S., Carsetti, R., Persistent B cell memory after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is functional during breakthrough infections, <<CELL HOST & MICROBE>>, 2022; (30): 400-408. [doi:10.1016/j.chom.2022.01.003] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/200146]

Persistent B cell memory after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is functional during breakthrough infections

Piano Mortari, E.;Vinci, M. R.;Deriu, G.;Camisa, V.;Muzi, A.;Magnavita, N.;Villani, A.;Locatelli, F.;Zaffina, S.;Carsetti, R.
2022

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.
2022
Inglese
Terreri, S., Piano Mortari, E., Vinci, M. R., Russo, C., Alteri, C., Albano, C., Colavita, F., Gramigna, G., Agrati, C., Linardos, G., Coltella, L., Colagrossi, L., Deriu, G., Ciofi Degli Atti, M., Rizzo, C., Scarsella, M., Brugaletta, R., Camisa, V., Santoro, A., Roscilli, G., Pavoni, E., Muzi, A., Magnavita, N., Scutari, R., Villani, A., Raponi, M., Locatelli, F., Perno, C. F., Zaffina, S., Carsetti, R., Persistent B cell memory after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is functional during breakthrough infections, <<CELL HOST & MICROBE>>, 2022; (30): 400-408. [doi:10.1016/j.chom.2022.01.003] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/200146]
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