Open AccessLongitudinal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular and humoral immunity after natural infection or BNT162b2 vaccination
Author(s) -
Patricia Almendro-Vázquez,
Rocío LagunaGoya,
María Ruiz-Ruigómez,
Alberto UtreroRico,
Antonio Lalueza,
Guillermo Maestrode la Calle,
Pilar Delgado,
Luis Perez-Ordoño,
Eva Muro,
Juan J. Vila,
Isabel Zamarrón,
Miguel Moreno-Batanero,
Marta Chivite-Lacaba,
Francisco Javier GilEtayo,
Carmen Martín-Higuera,
María Ángeles Meléndez-Carmona,
Carlos Lumbreras,
Irene Arellano,
Balbino Alarcón,
Luís M. Allende,
José María Aguado,
Estela PazArtal
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos pathogens
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.719
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1553-7374
pISSN - 1553-7366
DOI - 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010211
Subject(s) - vaccination , immunology , humoral immunity , immunity , immune system , cellular immunity , antibody , acquired immune system , medicine , covid-19 , biology , virology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
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.