SARS-CoV2 wild type and mutant specific humoral and T cell immunity is superior after vaccination than after natural infection.
<h4>Objective</h4>We investigated blood samples from fully SARS-CoV2-vaccinated subjects and from previously positive tested patients up to one year after infection with SARS-CoV2, and compared short- and long-term T cell and antibody responses, with a special focus on the recently emerg...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266701 |
| _version_ | 1811295420025929728 |
|---|---|
| author | Jennifer R Richardson Ralph Götz Vanessa Mayr Martin J Lohse Hans-Peter Holthoff Martin Ungerer |
| author_facet | Jennifer R Richardson Ralph Götz Vanessa Mayr Martin J Lohse Hans-Peter Holthoff Martin Ungerer |
| author_sort | Jennifer R Richardson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Objective</h4>We investigated blood samples from fully SARS-CoV2-vaccinated subjects and from previously positive tested patients up to one year after infection with SARS-CoV2, and compared short- and long-term T cell and antibody responses, with a special focus on the recently emerged delta variant (B.1.617.2).<h4>Methods and results</h4>In 23 vaccinated subjects, we documented high anti-SARS-CoV2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) antibody titers. Average virus neutralization by antibodies, assessed as inhibition of ACE2 binding to RBD, was 2.2-fold reduced for delta mutant vs. wild type (wt) RBD. The mean specific antibody titers were lower one year after natural infection than after vaccination; ACE2 binding to delta mutant vs. wt RBD was 1.65-fold reduced. In an additional group, omicron RBD binding was reduced compared to delta. Specific CD4+ T cell responses were measured after stimulation with peptides pools from wt, alpha, beta, gamma, or delta variant SARS-CoV2 spike proteins by flow cytometric intracellular cytokine staining. There was no significant difference in cytokine production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, or IL-2 between vaccinated subjects. T cell responses to wt or mutant SARS-CoV2 spike were significantly weaker after natural occurring infections compared to those in vaccinated individuals.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Antibody neutralisation of the delta mutant was reduced compared to wt, as assessed in a novel inhibition assay with a finger prick blood drop. Strong CD4 T cell responses were present against wt and mutant SARS-CoV2 variants, including the delta (B.1.617.2) strain, in fully vaccinated individuals, whereas they were partly weaker 1 year after natural infection. Hence, immune responses after vaccination are stronger compared to those after naturally occurring infection, pointing out the need of the vaccine to overcome the pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:32:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9d419a4d22364704ad45a560cebd0b1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:32:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d419a4d22364704ad45a560cebd0b1d2022-12-22T03:00:23ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01174e026670110.1371/journal.pone.0266701SARS-CoV2 wild type and mutant specific humoral and T cell immunity is superior after vaccination than after natural infection.Jennifer R RichardsonRalph GötzVanessa MayrMartin J LohseHans-Peter HolthoffMartin Ungerer<h4>Objective</h4>We investigated blood samples from fully SARS-CoV2-vaccinated subjects and from previously positive tested patients up to one year after infection with SARS-CoV2, and compared short- and long-term T cell and antibody responses, with a special focus on the recently emerged delta variant (B.1.617.2).<h4>Methods and results</h4>In 23 vaccinated subjects, we documented high anti-SARS-CoV2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) antibody titers. Average virus neutralization by antibodies, assessed as inhibition of ACE2 binding to RBD, was 2.2-fold reduced for delta mutant vs. wild type (wt) RBD. The mean specific antibody titers were lower one year after natural infection than after vaccination; ACE2 binding to delta mutant vs. wt RBD was 1.65-fold reduced. In an additional group, omicron RBD binding was reduced compared to delta. Specific CD4+ T cell responses were measured after stimulation with peptides pools from wt, alpha, beta, gamma, or delta variant SARS-CoV2 spike proteins by flow cytometric intracellular cytokine staining. There was no significant difference in cytokine production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, or IL-2 between vaccinated subjects. T cell responses to wt or mutant SARS-CoV2 spike were significantly weaker after natural occurring infections compared to those in vaccinated individuals.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Antibody neutralisation of the delta mutant was reduced compared to wt, as assessed in a novel inhibition assay with a finger prick blood drop. Strong CD4 T cell responses were present against wt and mutant SARS-CoV2 variants, including the delta (B.1.617.2) strain, in fully vaccinated individuals, whereas they were partly weaker 1 year after natural infection. Hence, immune responses after vaccination are stronger compared to those after naturally occurring infection, pointing out the need of the vaccine to overcome the pandemic.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266701 |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer R Richardson Ralph Götz Vanessa Mayr Martin J Lohse Hans-Peter Holthoff Martin Ungerer SARS-CoV2 wild type and mutant specific humoral and T cell immunity is superior after vaccination than after natural infection. PLoS ONE |
| title | SARS-CoV2 wild type and mutant specific humoral and T cell immunity is superior after vaccination than after natural infection. |
| title_full | SARS-CoV2 wild type and mutant specific humoral and T cell immunity is superior after vaccination than after natural infection. |
| title_fullStr | SARS-CoV2 wild type and mutant specific humoral and T cell immunity is superior after vaccination than after natural infection. |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-CoV2 wild type and mutant specific humoral and T cell immunity is superior after vaccination than after natural infection. |
| title_short | SARS-CoV2 wild type and mutant specific humoral and T cell immunity is superior after vaccination than after natural infection. |
| title_sort | sars cov2 wild type and mutant specific humoral and t cell immunity is superior after vaccination than after natural infection |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266701 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jenniferrrichardson sarscov2wildtypeandmutantspecifichumoralandtcellimmunityissuperioraftervaccinationthanafternaturalinfection AT ralphgotz sarscov2wildtypeandmutantspecifichumoralandtcellimmunityissuperioraftervaccinationthanafternaturalinfection AT vanessamayr sarscov2wildtypeandmutantspecifichumoralandtcellimmunityissuperioraftervaccinationthanafternaturalinfection AT martinjlohse sarscov2wildtypeandmutantspecifichumoralandtcellimmunityissuperioraftervaccinationthanafternaturalinfection AT hanspeterholthoff sarscov2wildtypeandmutantspecifichumoralandtcellimmunityissuperioraftervaccinationthanafternaturalinfection AT martinungerer sarscov2wildtypeandmutantspecifichumoralandtcellimmunityissuperioraftervaccinationthanafternaturalinfection |