Open AccessAntibody Responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccines Are Detectable in Saliva
Author(s) -
Thomas J. Ketas,
Devidas N. Chaturbhuj,
Victor M. Cruz Portillo,
Erik Francomano,
Encouse B. Golden,
Sharanya Chandrasekhar,
Gargi Debnath,
Randy Díaz-Tapia,
Anila Yasmeen,
Kyle D Kramer,
Tarek Munawar,
Wilhelm Leconet,
Zhen Zhao,
Philip J.M. Brouwer,
Melissa M. Cushing,
Rogier W. Sanders,
Albert Cupo,
Per Johan Klasse,
Silvia C. Formenti,
John P. Moore
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pathogens and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2469-2964
DOI - 10.20411/pai.v6i1.441
Subject(s) - saliva , antibody , immunology , immune system , virology , medicine , transmission (telecommunications) , immunoglobulin a , immunoglobulin g , messenger rna , biology , gene , electrical engineering , engineering , biochemistry
The approved Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines are well known to induce serum antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S)-protein. However, their abilities to elicit mucosal immune responses have not been reported. Saliva antibodies represent mucosal responses that may be relevant to how mRNA vaccines prevent oral and nasal SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Here, we describe the outcome of a cross-sectional study on a healthcare worker cohort (WELCOME-NYPH), in which we assessed whether IgM, IgG, and IgA antibodies to the S-protein and its receptor-binding domain (RBD) were present in serum and saliva samples. Anti-S-protein IgG was detected in 14/31 and 66/66 of saliva samples from uninfected participants after vaccine doses-1 and -2, respectively. IgA antibodies to the S-protein were present in 40/66 saliva samples after dose 2. Anti-S-protein IgG was present in every serum sample from recipients of 2 vaccine doses. Vaccine-induced antibodies against the RBD were also frequently present in saliva and sera. These findings may help our understanding of whether and how vaccines may impede SARS-CoV-2 transmission, including to oral cavity target cells.