Naturally enhanced neutralizing breadth against SARS-CoV-2 one year after infection

Zijun Wang, Frauke Muecksch, Dennis Schaefer-Babajew, Shlomo Finkin, Charlotte Viant, Christian Gaebler, Hans- Heinrich Hoffmann, Christopher O. Barnes, Melissa Cipolla, Victor Ramos, Thiago Y. Oliveira, Alice Cho, Fabian Schmidt, Justin Silva, Eva Bednarski, Lauren Aguado, Jim Yee, Mridushi Daga, Martina Turroja, Katrina G. Millard, Mila Jankovic, Anna Gazumyan, Zhen Zhao, Charles M. Rice, Paul D. Bieniasz (), Marina Caskey (), Theodora Hatziioannou () and Michel C. Nussenzweig ()
Additional contact information
Zijun Wang: The Rockefeller University
Frauke Muecksch: The Rockefeller University
Dennis Schaefer-Babajew: The Rockefeller University
Shlomo Finkin: The Rockefeller University
Charlotte Viant: The Rockefeller University
Christian Gaebler: The Rockefeller University
Hans- Heinrich Hoffmann: The Rockefeller University
Christopher O. Barnes: California Institute of Technology
Melissa Cipolla: The Rockefeller University
Victor Ramos: The Rockefeller University
Thiago Y. Oliveira: The Rockefeller University
Alice Cho: The Rockefeller University
Fabian Schmidt: The Rockefeller University
Justin Silva: The Rockefeller University
Eva Bednarski: The Rockefeller University
Lauren Aguado: The Rockefeller University
Jim Yee: Weill Cornell Medicine
Mridushi Daga: The Rockefeller University
Martina Turroja: The Rockefeller University
Katrina G. Millard: The Rockefeller University
Mila Jankovic: The Rockefeller University
Anna Gazumyan: The Rockefeller University
Zhen Zhao: Weill Cornell Medicine
Charles M. Rice: The Rockefeller University
Paul D. Bieniasz: The Rockefeller University
Marina Caskey: The Rockefeller University
Theodora Hatziioannou: The Rockefeller University
Michel C. Nussenzweig: The Rockefeller University

Nature, 2021, vol. 595, issue 7867, 426-431

Abstract: Abstract More than one year after its inception, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains difficult to control despite the availability of several working vaccines. Progress in controlling the pandemic is slowed by the emergence of variants that appear to be more transmissible and more resistant to antibodies1,2. Here we report on a cohort of 63 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 assessed at 1.3, 6.2 and 12 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, 41% of whom also received mRNA vaccines3,4. In the absence of vaccination, antibody reactivity to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, neutralizing activity and the number of RBD-specific memory B cells remain relatively stable between 6 and 12 months after infection. Vaccination increases all components of the humoral response and, as expected, results in serum neutralizing activities against variants of concern similar to or greater than the neutralizing activity against the original Wuhan Hu-1 strain achieved by vaccination of naive individuals2,5–8. The mechanism underlying these broad-based responses involves ongoing antibody somatic mutation, memory B cell clonal turnover and development of monoclonal antibodies that are exceptionally resistant to SARS-CoV-2 RBD mutations, including those found in the variants of concern4,9. In addition, B cell clones expressing broad and potent antibodies are selectively retained in the repertoire over time and expand markedly after vaccination. The data suggest that immunity in convalescent individuals will be very long lasting and that convalescent individuals who receive available mRNA vaccines will produce antibodies and memory B cells that should be protective against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03696-9

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