Moderate to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection primes vaccine-induced immunity more effectively than asymptomatic or mild infection

Abstract

Hybrid immunity induced by vaccination following recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection is more robust than immunity induced by either infection or vaccination alone. To investigate how infection severity influenced the strength and character of subsequent vaccine-induced humoral or cellular immune responses against SARS-CoV-2, we assessed humoral and cellular immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 following recovery from infection, vaccine dose 1 and vaccine dose 2 in 35 persons recovered from COVID-19. Persons with polymerase chain reaction or serologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were recruited into a study of immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Self-reported symptoms categorized them as experiencing asymptomatic, mild, moderate or severe infection based on duration, intensity and need for hospitalization. Whole blood was obtained before vaccination and after first and second doses. Humoral immunity was assessed by ELISA and cellular immunity by ELISpot and intracellular flow cytometry. Responses were compared between groups recovered from either asymptomatic/mild (n = 14) or moderate/severe (n = 21) infection. Most subjects experienced robust increases in humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein following 1 vaccination. Quantitative responses to second vaccination were marginal when measured 2.5 months afterwards and moderate or severe infection maintained stronger responses. Polyfunctional CD8+ T cell responses were largely restricted to subjects recovered from moderate or severe infection. One vaccine dose triggered stronger immune responses than in a comparable group never infected with SARS-CoV-2, while the second dose produced only minor lasting increases in humoral or cellular responses. Infection history should be considered in planning COVID-19 vaccine administration.

Early humoral response to COVID-19 vaccination in patients living with obesity and diabetes in France. The COVPOP OBEDIAB study with results from the ANRS0001S COV-POPART cohort

“…We cannot completely rule out that we included participants with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection because anti-NCP tests have not a 100 % sensitivity and anti-NCP antibodies wane over time. Thus, humoral responses presented in this study may not reflect vaccine responses only as prior infection could have impacted them [41] . Nonetheless, we do think that the probability is low given the inclusion period for the study and the non-pharmaceutical interventions in place at that time.…”

Hybrid immunity elicits potent cross-variant ADCC against SARS-CoV-2 through a combination of anti-S1 and S2 antibodies

“…Constructs were inserted into pLVX-IRES as detailed in (66) using conventional cloning protocols and all constructs were verified by forward and reverse strand sequencing (TCAG Facilities, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto ON, Canada) to ensure authenticity. SnapGene Software (San Diego CA, USA) was used for designing and visualizing cloning procedures, designing and aligning sequencing primers and comparing variant sequences to wild-type Wuhan-Hu-1.…”

“…Transduced cells were propagated and selected in complete DMEM containing 1 μg/mL puromycin (Sigma-Aldrich). Extracellular S expression was confirmed by flow cytometry, as previously outlined (66).…”

Indirect Dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 Live-Attenuated Vaccine and Its Contribution to Herd Immunity

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic’s first years, some of the given vaccines used the S1 protein as an antigen, while others used inactivated whole virus. Both induced mainly systemic immunity as they were administered intramuscularly (IM) [ 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 ]. Humoral and cellular immunity developed by the individuals that were immunized with S1 protein-based vaccines was directed against this antigen [ 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 ], whereas those that were inactivated virus-based, induced responses against the different viral antigens [ 116 , 117 , 118 ], including the S1 protein [ 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ].…”

“…Both induced mainly systemic immunity as they were administered intramuscularly (IM) [ 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 ]. Humoral and cellular immunity developed by the individuals that were immunized with S1 protein-based vaccines was directed against this antigen [ 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 ], whereas those that were inactivated virus-based, induced responses against the different viral antigens [ 116 , 117 , 118 ], including the S1 protein [ 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ]. These same vaccines were modified for intranasal use and are under preclinical and clinical studies to establish if they can induce effective mucosal immunity [ 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 ].…”