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

TitleNaturally enhanced neutralizing breadth against SARS-CoV-2 one year after infection.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsWang Z, Muecksch F, Schaefer-Babajew D, Finkin S, Viant C, Gaebler C, Hoffmann H-Heinrich, Barnes CO, Cipolla M, Ramos V, Oliveira TY, Cho A, Schmidt F, Da Silva J, Bednarski E, Aguado L, Yee J, Daga M, Turroja M, Millard KG, Jankovic M, Gazumyan A, Zhao Z, Rice CM, Bieniasz PD, Caskey M, Hatziioannou T, Nussenzweig MC
JournalNature
Volume595
Issue7867
Pagination426-431
Date Published2021 07
ISSN1476-4687
KeywordsAdult, Aged, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antibodies, Neutralizing, Antibodies, Viral, B-Lymphocytes, COVID-19, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Epitopes, Female, Humans, Immunologic Memory, Male, Middle Aged, SARS-CoV-2, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus, Time Factors
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 antibodies. 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 vaccines. 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 individuals. 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 concern. 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.

DOI10.1038/s41586-021-03696-9
Alternate JournalNature
PubMed ID34126625
PubMed Central IDPMC8277577
Grant List / WT_ / Wellcome Trust / United Kingdom
R01 AI078788 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI091707 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
2U19 AI111825 / NH / NIH HHS / United States
R37 AI064003 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
U19 AI111825 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
P01 AI138398-S1 / NH / NIH HHS / United States
/ HHMI / Howard Hughes Medical Institute / United States
UL1 TR001866 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
Related Faculty: 
Zhen Zhao, Ph.D.

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