Marot, Stéphane, Malet, Isabelle, Leducq, Valentin, Zafilaza, Karen, Sterlin, Delphine, Planas, Delphine, Gothland, Adélie, Jary, Aude, Dorgham, Karim, Bruel, Timothée, the Sorbonne Université SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies Study Group, Attali, Valérie, Baresse, Isabelle, Beurton, Alexandra, Boddaert, Jacques, Bourmaleau, Julie, Catala, Martin, Demoule, Alexandre, Dunoyer, Violaine, and Esteban-Amarilla, Cristina
There are only few data concerning persistence of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) among SARS-CoV-2-infected healthcare workers (HCW). These individuals are particularly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection and at potential risk of reinfection. We followed 26 HCW with mild COVID-19 three weeks (D21), two months (M2) and three months (M3) after the onset of symptoms. All the HCW had anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgA at D21, decreasing to 38.5% at M3 (p < 0.0001). Concomitantly a significant decrease in NAb titers was observed between D21 and M2 (p = 0.03) and between D21 and M3 (p < 0.0001). Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 can elicit a NAb response correlated with anti-RBD antibody levels. However, this neutralizing activity declines, and may even be lost, in association with a decrease in systemic IgA antibody levels, from two months after disease onset. This short-lasting humoral protection supports strong recommendations to maintain infection prevention and control measures in HCW, and suggests that periodic boosts of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may be required. The humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is not yet fully understood. Here, Marot et al. monitor the longitudinal profile and neutralizing activity of IgG, IgA, and IgM among 26 healthcare workers and provide evidence for a short-lasting humoral immune protection due to a decrease of neutralizing antibody titers within 3 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]