Specific memory B cells and antibodies are a reliable read-out of vaccine efficacy. We analysed these biomarkers after one and two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine. The second dose significantly increases the level of highly specific memory B cells and antibodies. Two months after the second dose, specific antibody levels decline, but highly specific memory B cells continue to increase, thus predicting a sustained protection from COVID-19. We show that although mucosal IgA is not induced by the vaccination, memory B cells migrate in response to inflammation and secrete IgA at mucosal sites. We show that the first vaccine dose may lead to an insufficient number of highly specific memory B cells and low concentration of serum antibodies, thus leaving vaccinees without the immune robustness needed to ensure viral elimination and herd immunity. We also clarify that the reduction of serum antibodies does not diminish the force and duration of the immune protection induced by vaccination. The vaccine does not induce sterilizing immunity. Infection after vaccination may be caused by the lack of local preventive immunity because of the absence of mucosal IgA.

Mortari, E.p., Russo, C., Vinci, M.r., Terreri, S., Salinas, A.f., Piccioni, L., et al. (2021). Highly specific memory b cells generation after the 2nd dose of bnt162b2 vaccine compensate for the decline of serum antibodies and absence of mucosal iga. CELLS, 10(10), 2541 [10.3390/cells10102541].

Highly specific memory b cells generation after the 2nd dose of bnt162b2 vaccine compensate for the decline of serum antibodies and absence of mucosal iga

Colagrossi L.;Santoro A.;Cotugno N.;Amodio D.;
2021-01-01

Abstract

Specific memory B cells and antibodies are a reliable read-out of vaccine efficacy. We analysed these biomarkers after one and two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine. The second dose significantly increases the level of highly specific memory B cells and antibodies. Two months after the second dose, specific antibody levels decline, but highly specific memory B cells continue to increase, thus predicting a sustained protection from COVID-19. We show that although mucosal IgA is not induced by the vaccination, memory B cells migrate in response to inflammation and secrete IgA at mucosal sites. We show that the first vaccine dose may lead to an insufficient number of highly specific memory B cells and low concentration of serum antibodies, thus leaving vaccinees without the immune robustness needed to ensure viral elimination and herd immunity. We also clarify that the reduction of serum antibodies does not diminish the force and duration of the immune protection induced by vaccination. The vaccine does not induce sterilizing immunity. Infection after vaccination may be caused by the lack of local preventive immunity because of the absence of mucosal IgA.
2021
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore MED/38 - PEDIATRIA GENERALE E SPECIALISTICA
English
COVID-19 Vaccines
BNT162b2
IgA
SARS-CoV-2
immunity
memory B cells
vaccine
Adult
Antibodies, Neutralizing
Antibodies, Viral
Antigens, Viral
B-Lymphocytes
BNT162 Vaccine
COVID-19
Cryopreservation
Female
Health Personnel
Healthy Volunteers
Hospitals, Pediatric
Humans
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Lactation
Male
Middle Aged
Mucous Membrane
Patient Safety
SARS-CoV-2
Vaccination
Immunologic Memory
Mortari, E.p., Russo, C., Vinci, M.r., Terreri, S., Salinas, A.f., Piccioni, L., et al. (2021). Highly specific memory b cells generation after the 2nd dose of bnt162b2 vaccine compensate for the decline of serum antibodies and absence of mucosal iga. CELLS, 10(10), 2541 [10.3390/cells10102541].
Mortari, Ep; Russo, C; Vinci, Mr; Terreri, S; Salinas, Af; Piccioni, L; Alteri, C; Colagrossi, L; Coltella, L; Ranno, S; Linardos, G; Agosta, M; Albano, C; Agrati, C; Castilletti, C; Meschi, S; Romania, P; Roscilli, G; Pavoni, E; Camisa, V; Santoro, A; Brugaletta, R; Magnavita, N; Ruggiero, A; Cotugno, N; Amodio, D; Atti, Mlcd; Giorgio, D; Russo, N; Salvatori, G; Corsetti, T; Locatelli, F; Perno, Cf; Zaffina, S; Carsetti, R
Articolo su rivista
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/292278
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 37
  • Scopus 55
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 53
social impact