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Observational Study
. 2022 Jun 10;17(6):e0269917.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269917. eCollection 2022.

Factors associated with anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein antibody titer and neutralizing activity among healthcare workers following vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine

Yurie Kobashi  1   2 , Yuzo Shimazu  2   3 , Takeshi Kawamura  4   5 , Yoshitaka Nishikawa  1 , Fumiya Omata  1 , Yudai Kaneko  5 , Tatsuhiko Kodama  5 , Masaharu Tsubokura  1   2
Affiliations
Observational Study

Factors associated with anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein antibody titer and neutralizing activity among healthcare workers following vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine

Yurie Kobashi et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with the increase in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S1) protein and neutralizing antibody titer following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. This observational study was conducted among healthcare workers working for a private hospital group in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Two blood samples were obtained from each participant. The first sample was obtained before the first dose of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine, and a second sample was obtained approximately 6 weeks later. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody against the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S1) protein, immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody against SARS-CoV-2 N-protein, and neutralizing activity were measured using the chemiluminescent immunoassay with iFlash 3000. A total of 231 healthcare workers who agreed to participate, and were negative for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibodies at enrollment, were included in the analysis. All participants had elevated IgG antibodies and neutralizing activity above the cutoff values. A total of 174 (75.3%) and 208 (90.0%) participants experienced adverse reactions after the first and second vaccine doses, respectively. Younger age, female sex, not taking immunosuppressive or antipyretic analgesic medication regularly, a lack of local adverse reactions after the first dose, and the presence of adverse reactions (fever, muscle, and joint pain) after the second dose were associated with higher IgG antibody titers and neutralizing activity. Intake of analgesic antipyretic for adverse reactions to vaccines was not significantly associated with antibody and neutralizing activity titer production. Immune responses after vaccination may differ among individuals, and continued countermeasures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection are vital.

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Conflict of interest statement

Kaneko belongs to MBL, the company that imported the testing material used in this research. Kaneko engaged in the testing process; however, he did not engage in the research design and analysis. Kobashi and Tsubokura received a research grant from the Pfizer Health Research Foundation for research not associated with this work. Other members have no declaration of interests. All members received a research grant from the AMED from August 2021 for research not associated with this work.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody titer and neutralizing activity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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