COVID-19 mRNA vaccine induced antibody responses against three SARS-CoV-2 variants

Pinja Jalkanen (), Pekka Kolehmainen, Hanni K. Häkkinen, Moona Huttunen, Paula A. Tähtinen, Rickard Lundberg, Sari Maljanen, Arttu Reinholm, Sisko Tauriainen, Sari H. Pakkanen, Iris Levonen, Arttu Nousiainen, Taru Miller, Hanna Välimaa, Lauri Ivaska, Arja Pasternack, Rauno Naves, Olli Ritvos, Pamela Österlund, Suvi Kuivanen, Teemu Smura, Jussi Hepojoki, Olli Vapalahti, Johanna Lempainen, Laura Kakkola, Anu Kantele and Ilkka Julkunen ()
Additional contact information
Pinja Jalkanen: University of Turku
Pekka Kolehmainen: University of Turku
Hanni K. Häkkinen: Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki
Moona Huttunen: University of Turku
Paula A. Tähtinen: Turku University Hospital and University of Turku
Rickard Lundberg: University of Turku
Sari Maljanen: University of Turku
Arttu Reinholm: University of Turku
Sisko Tauriainen: University of Turku
Sari H. Pakkanen: Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki
Iris Levonen: Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki
Arttu Nousiainen: Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki
Taru Miller: Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki
Hanna Välimaa: Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki
Lauri Ivaska: Turku University Hospital and University of Turku
Arja Pasternack: University of Helsinki
Rauno Naves: University of Helsinki
Olli Ritvos: University of Helsinki
Pamela Österlund: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Suvi Kuivanen: University of Helsinki
Teemu Smura: University of Helsinki
Jussi Hepojoki: University of Helsinki
Olli Vapalahti: University of Helsinki
Johanna Lempainen: University of Turku
Laura Kakkola: University of Turku
Anu Kantele: Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki
Ilkka Julkunen: University of Turku

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract As SARS-CoV-2 has been circulating for over a year, dozens of vaccine candidates are under development or in clinical use. The BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine induces spike protein-specific neutralizing antibodies associated with protective immunity. The emergence of the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants has raised concerns of reduced vaccine efficacy and increased re-infection rates. Here we show, that after the second dose, the sera of BNT162b2-vaccinated health care workers (n = 180) effectively neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 variant with the D614G substitution and the B.1.1.7 variant, whereas the neutralization of the B.1.351 variant is five-fold reduced. Despite the reduction, 92% of the seronegative vaccinees have a neutralization titre of >20 for the B.1.351 variant indicating some protection. The vaccinees’ neutralization titres exceeded those of recovered non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Our work provides evidence that the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine induces cross-neutralization of at least some of the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24285-4

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