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Longitudinal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular and humoral immunity after natural infection or BNT162b2 vaccination.
- Source :
-
PLoS pathogens [PLoS Pathog] 2021 Dec 28; Vol. 17 (12), pp. e1010211. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Dec 28 (Print Publication: 2021). - Publication Year :
- 2021
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Abstract
- The timing of the development of specific adaptive immunity after natural SARS-CoV-2 infection, and its relevance in clinical outcome, has not been characterized in depth. Description of the long-term maintenance of both cellular and humoral responses elicited by real-world anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is still scarce. Here we aimed to understand the development of optimal protective responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. We performed an early, longitudinal study of S1-, M- and N-specific IFN-γ and IL-2 T cell immunity and anti-S total and neutralizing antibodies in 88 mild, moderate or severe acute COVID-19 patients. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2-specific adaptive immunity was also analysed in 234 COVID-19 recovered subjects, 28 uninfected BNT162b2-vaccinees and 30 uninfected healthy controls. Upon natural infection, cellular and humoral responses were early and coordinated in mild patients, while weak and inconsistent in severe patients. The S1-specific cellular response measured at hospital arrival was an independent predictive factor against severity. In COVID-19 recovered patients, four to seven months post-infection, cellular immunity was maintained but antibodies and neutralization capacity declined. Finally, a robust Th1-driven immune response was developed in uninfected BNT162b2-vaccinees. Three months post-vaccination, the cellular response was comparable, while the humoral response was consistently stronger, to that measured in COVID-19 recovered patients. Thus, measurement of both humoral and cellular responses provides information on prognosis and protection from infection, which may add value for individual and public health recommendations.<br />Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1553-7374
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PLoS pathogens
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34962970
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010211