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. 2021 Dec;51(12):3202-3213.
doi: 10.1002/eji.202149535. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Persistence of neutralizing antibodies a year after SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans

Anu Haveri  1 , Nina Ekström  1 , Anna Solastie  1 , Camilla Virta  1 , Pamela Österlund  1 , Elina Isosaari  2 , Hanna Nohynek  1 , Arto A Palmu  2 , Merit Melin  1
Affiliations

Persistence of neutralizing antibodies a year after SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans

Anu Haveri et al. Eur J Immunol. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Most subjects develop antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 following infection. In order to estimate the duration of immunity induced by SARS-CoV-2 it is important to understand for how long antibodies persist after infection in humans. Here, we assessed the persistence of serum antibodies following WT SARS-CoV-2 infection at 8 and 13 months after diagnosis in 367 individuals. The SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG (S-IgG) and nucleoprotein IgG (N-IgG) concentrations and the proportion of subjects with neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were assessed. Moreover, the NAb titers among a smaller subset of participants (n = 78) against a WT virus (B) and variants of concern (VOCs): Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Delta (B.1.617.2) were determined. We found that NAb against the WT virus persisted in 89% and S-IgG in 97% of subjects for at least 13 months after infection. Only 36% had N-IgG by 13 months. The mean S-IgG concentrations declined from 8 to 13 months by less than one third; N-IgG concentrations declined by two-thirds. Subjects with severe infection had markedly higher IgG and NAb levels and are expected to remain seropositive for longer. Significantly lower NAb titers against the variants compared to the WT virus, especially after a mild disease, suggests reduced protection against VOCs.

Keywords: IgG antibodies; SARS-CoV-2; neutralizing antibodies; seroprevalence; variants of concern.

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Conflict of interest statement

Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has received research funding for unrelated studies from GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines (N.E., C.V., A.A.P. and M.M. as investigators), Pfizer (A.A.P.), and Sanofi Pasteur (A.A.P.). The other authors report no potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The study flow chart showing the selection of serum samples of the study participants for the determination of antibody concentration and neutralizing antibodies 8 and 13 months after infection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Nucleoprotein (N), and spike protein (SFL, RBD) specific IgG concentrations (BAU/ml) with geometric mean concentrations (95% CI) at 8 and 13 months after infection, n = 367 subjects. FMIA specific cut‐off for seropositivity is indicated by a dashed red line. Each sample was tested as technical duplicates in each experiment and the experimental precision was confirmed by two control samples in each independent experiment.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution and the geometric mean of IgG concentrations (BAU/ml and 95% CIs) for nucleoprotein (N specific IgG), and spike protein (SFL and RBD specific IgG) in subjects 8 and 13 months after severe (n = 47 subjects) or mild (n = 320 subjects) infection. FMIA specific cut‐off for seropositivity is indicated by a dashed red line. Each sample was tested as technical duplicates in each experiment and the experimental precision was confirmed by two control samples in each independent experiment.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The proportion of subjects positive, low positive (borderline), and negative for neutralizing antibodies 13 months after infection against four SARS‐CoV‐2 virus strains (n = 78 subjects): The WT virus (B), the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), the Beta variant (B.1.351), and the Delta variant (B.1.617.2). Each sample was tested as technical duplicates in each experiment and the experimental precision was confirmed by two control samples in each independent experiment.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Spearman correlation (ρ) and significance (p) between S‐IgG antibody concentrations and neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers against the WT virus (B) and the variants of concern: Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Delta (B.1.617.2). One point may represent multiple samples (n = 78 subjects). Each sample was tested as technical duplicates in each experiment and the experimental precision was confirmed by two control samples in each independent experiment.
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