Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection rescues B and T cell responses to variants after first vaccine dose

Catherine J. Reynolds, Corinna Pade, Joseph M. Gibbons, David K. Butler, Ashley D. Otter, Katia Menacho, Marianna Fontana, Angelique Smit, Jane E. Sackville-West, Teresa Cutino-Moguel, Mala K. Maini, Benjamin Chain, Mahdad Noursadeghi, Tim Brooks, Amanda Semper, Charlotte Manisty, Thomas A. Treibel, James C. Moon, Ana M. Valdes, Áine McKnightDaniel M. Altmann, Rosemary Boyton, UK COVIDsortium Immune Correlates Network, UK COVIDsortium Investigators

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine rollout has coincided with the spread of variants of concern. We investigated whether single-dose vaccination, with or without prior infection, confers cross-protective immunity to variants. We analyzed T and B cell responses after first-dose vaccination with the Pfizer/BioNTech messenger RNA vaccine BNT162b2 in health care workers (HCW) followed longitudinally, with or without prior Wuhan-Hu-1 SARS-CoV-2 infection. After one dose, individuals with prior infection showed enhanced T cell immunity, antibody-secreting memory B cell response to the spike protein, and neutralizing antibodies effective against variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351. By comparison, HCW receiving one vaccine dose without prior infection showed reduced immunity against variants. B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 spike mutations resulted in increased, abrogated, or unchanged T cell responses, depending on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms. Single-dose vaccination with BNT162b2 in the context of prior infection with a heterologous variant substantially enhances neutralizing antibody responses against variants.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1418-1423
Number of pages6
JournalScience
Volume372
Issue number6549
Early online date30 Apr 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Jun 2021

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