Long-term humoral and cellular immunity against vaccine strains and Omicron subvariants (BQ.1.1, BN.1, XBB.1, and EG.5) after bivalent COVID-19 vaccination

oleh: Hakjun Hyun, Eliel Nham, Eliel Nham, Eliel Nham, Hye Seong, Hye Seong, Hye Seong, Jin Gu Yoon, Jin Gu Yoon, Jin Gu Yoon, Ji Yun Noh, Ji Yun Noh, Ji Yun Noh, Hee Jin Cheong, Hee Jin Cheong, Hee Jin Cheong, Woo Joo Kim, Woo Joo Kim, Woo Joo Kim, Sun Kyung Yoon, Se-Jin Park, WonSeok Gwak, June-Woo Lee, Byoungguk Kim, Joon Young Song, Joon Young Song, Joon Young Song

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-05-01

Deskripsi

BackgroundThe assessment of long-term humoral and cellular immunity post-vaccination is crucial for establishing an optimal vaccination strategy.MethodsThis prospective cohort study evaluated adults (≥18 years) who received a BA.4/5 bivalent vaccine. We measured the anti-receptor binding domain immunoglobulin G antibody and neutralizing antibodies (NAb) against wild-type and Omicron subvariants (BA.5, BQ.1.1, BN.1, XBB.1 and EG.5) up to 9 months post-vaccination. T-cell immune responses were measured before and 4 weeks after vaccination.ResultsA total of 108 (28 SARS-CoV-2-naïve and 80 previously infected) participants were enrolled. Anti-receptor binding domain immunoglobulin G (U/mL) levels were higher at 9 months post-vaccination than baseline in SAR-CoV-2-naïve individuals (8,339 vs. 1,834, p<0.001). NAb titers against BQ.1.1, BN.1, and XBB.1 were significantly higher at 9 months post-vaccination than baseline in both groups, whereas NAb against EG.5 was negligible at all time points. The T-cell immune response (median spot forming unit/106 cells) was highly cross-reactive at both baseline (wild-type/BA.5/XBB.1.5, 38.3/52.5/45.0 in SARS-CoV-2-naïve individuals; 51.6/54.9/54.9 in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals) and 4 weeks post-vaccination, with insignificant boosting post-vaccination.ConclusionRemarkable cross-reactive neutralization was observed against BQ.1.1, BN.1, and XBB.1 up to 9 months after BA.4/5 bivalent vaccination, but not against EG.5. The T-cell immune response was highly cross-reactive.