Highly-specific memory B cell generation after 2nd dose of BNT162b2 vaccine compensate for decline of serum antibodies, absence of mucosal IgA

 Eva Piano Mortari, Cristina Russo, Maria Rosaria Vinci, Sara Terreri, Ane Fernandez Salinas, Livia Piccioni, Claudia Alteri, Luna Colagrossi, Luana Coltella, Stefania Ranno, Giulia Linardos, Marilena Agosta, Christian Albano, Chiara Agrati, Concetta Castilletti, Silvia Meschi, Paolo Romania, Giuseppe Roscilli, Emiliano Pavoni, Vincenzo Camisa, Annapaola Santoro, Rita Brugaletta, Nicola Magnavita, Alessandra Ruggiero, Nicola Cotugno, Donato Amodio, Marta Luisa Ciofi Degli Atti, Daniela Giorgio, Nicoletta Russo, Guglielmo Salvatori, Tiziana Corsetti, Franco Locatelli, Carlo Federico Perno, Salvatore Zaffina, Rita Carsetti

doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.08.21258284

This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review [what does this mean?]. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice.

PDF: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.08.21258284v1.full.pdf

Abstract

Specific memory B cells and antibodies are reliable read-out of vaccine efficacy. We analyzed 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.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Funding Statement

This work was founded by: Italian Ministry of Health RF2013-02358960 grant Italian Ministry of Health COVID-2020-12371817 grant Ricerca Corrente 2021 5 per mille

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.08.21258284v1