Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in vaccinated individuals

Matthias Becker, Alex Dulovic, Daniel Junker, Natalia Ruetalo, Philipp D. Kaiser, Yudi T. Pinilla, Constanze Heinzel, Julia Haering, Bjoern Traenkle, Teresa R. Wagner, Mirjam Layer, Martin Mehrlaender, Valbona Mirakaj, Jana Held, Hannes Planatscher, Katja Schenke-Layland, Gérard Krause, Monika Strengert, Tamam Bakchoul, Karina Althaus, Rolf Fendel, Andrea Kreidenweiss, Michael Koeppen, Ulrich Rothbauer (), Michael Schindler () and Nicole Schneiderhan-Marra ()
Additional contact information
Matthias Becker: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen
Alex Dulovic: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen
Daniel Junker: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen
Natalia Ruetalo: University Hospital Tübingen
Philipp D. Kaiser: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen
Yudi T. Pinilla: University of Tübingen
Constanze Heinzel: University of Tübingen
Julia Haering: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen
Bjoern Traenkle: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen
Teresa R. Wagner: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen
Mirjam Layer: University Hospital Tübingen
Martin Mehrlaender: University Hospital Tübingen
Valbona Mirakaj: University Hospital Tübingen
Jana Held: University of Tübingen
Hannes Planatscher: Signatope GmbH
Katja Schenke-Layland: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen
Gérard Krause: Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Monika Strengert: Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Tamam Bakchoul: University Hospital Tübingen
Karina Althaus: University Hospital Tübingen
Rolf Fendel: University of Tübingen
Andrea Kreidenweiss: University of Tübingen
Michael Koeppen: University Hospital Tübingen
Ulrich Rothbauer: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen
Michael Schindler: University Hospital Tübingen
Nicole Schneiderhan-Marra: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract SARS-CoV-2 is evolving with mutations in the receptor binding domain (RBD) being of particular concern. It is important to know how much cross-protection is offered between strains following vaccination or infection. Here, we obtain serum and saliva samples from groups of vaccinated (Pfizer BNT-162b2), infected and uninfected individuals and characterize the antibody response to RBD mutant strains. Vaccinated individuals have a robust humoral response after the second dose and have high IgG antibody titers in the saliva. Antibody responses however show considerable differences in binding to RBD mutants of emerging variants of concern and substantial reduction in RBD binding and neutralization is observed against a patient-isolated South African variant. Taken together our data reinforce the importance of the second dose of Pfizer BNT-162b2 to acquire high levels of neutralizing antibodies and high antibody titers in saliva suggest that vaccinated individuals may have reduced transmission potential. Substantially reduced neutralization for the South African variant further highlights the importance of surveillance strategies to detect new variants and targeting these in future vaccines.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23473-6

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23473-6

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