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. 2022 Apr 19;10(5):639.
doi: 10.3390/vaccines10050639.

Dynamics of Neutralizing Antibody and T-Cell Responses to SARS-CoV-2 and Variants of Concern after Primary Immunization with CoronaVac and Booster with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 in Health Care Workers

Watsamon Jantarabenjakul  1   2   3 , Pimpayao Sodsai  4 , Napaporn Chantasrisawad  1   2   3 , Anusara Jitsatja  1 , Sasiprapa Ninwattana  1 , Nattakarn Thippamom  1 , Vichaya Ruenjaiman  4 , Chee Wah Tan  5 , Rakchanok Pradit  1 , Jiratchaya Sophonphan  6 , Supaporn Wacharapluesadee  1 , Lin-Fa Wang  5 , Thanyawee Puthanakit  2   3 , Nattiya Hirankarn  4 , Opass Putcharoen  1   6   7
Affiliations

Dynamics of Neutralizing Antibody and T-Cell Responses to SARS-CoV-2 and Variants of Concern after Primary Immunization with CoronaVac and Booster with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 in Health Care Workers

Watsamon Jantarabenjakul et al. Vaccines (Basel). .

Abstract

Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) is commonly used in national immunization programs. However, the immune response significantly declines within a few months. Our study assessed the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 after receiving booster shots of BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 among health care workers who previously received CoronaVac as their primary immunization. Fifty-six participants who received ChAdOx1 and forty-two participants who received BNT162b2 were enrolled into this study, which evaluated immune responses, including anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike total antibodies (Elecsys®), surrogated viral neutralization test (sVNT) to ancestral strain (cPass™; GenScript), five variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron) (Luminex; multiplex sVNT) and the ELISpot with spike (S1 and S2) peptide pool against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain. The samples were analyzed at baseline, 4, and 12 weeks after primary immunization, as well as 4 and 12 weeks after receiving the booster. This study showed a significant increase in anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike total antibodies, sVNT, and T-cell immune response after the booster, including against the Omicron variant. Immune responses rapidly decreased in the booster group at 12 weeks after booster but were still higher than post-primary vaccination. A fourth dose or a second booster should be recommended, particularly in health care workers.

Keywords: BNT162b2; COVID-19; ChAdOx1; CoronaVac; SARS-CoV-2; T-cell immune response; anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike total antibodies; booster; surrogate viral neutralizing antibody; vaccines.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Dynamic of immune response of participants who received primary CoronaVac vaccination and were boosted with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 at week 12 for (A) anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike total antibodies (U/mL) by Elecsys and (B) surrogate neutralizing antibody to ancestral type (% inhibition) by GenScript at 4 and 12 weeks post booster.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Dynamics of immune response surrogate neutralizing antibody (sVNT) to ancestral type, Delta, Omicron, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma in participants who received primary CoronaVac vaccination and were boosted with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 by multiplex sVNT.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Dynamics of T-cell response by ELISpot (A) Pool S1, and (B) Pool S2 in participants who received primary CoronaVac vaccination and were boosted with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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