Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

April 16, 2021

Distinct Antibody and Memory B Cell Responses in SARS-CoV-2 Naïve and Recovered Individuals Following mRNA Vaccination

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  • A single dose of an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech) administered to SARS-CoV-2 naïve individuals produced neutralizing activity against the D614G variant in 50% of recipients and against the B.1.351 variant in 16% of recipients (n=33). Neutralizing activity improved to 100% against the D614G variant and 96% against the against the B.1.351 variant following a second dose. Two doses of the vaccine were also required to achieve levels of SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific memory B cells that were comparable to what is seen in non-vaccinated individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. 
  • By contrast, neutralizing antibody activity and antigen-specific memory B cell levels in individuals who had recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection were significantly boosted after the first vaccine dose and did not significantly change after the second dose.

Goel et al. (Apr 15, 2021). Distinct Antibody and Memory B Cell Responses in SARS-CoV-2 Naïve and Recovered Individuals Following mRNA Vaccination. Science Immunology. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.abi6950