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Observational Study
. 2023 Feb 22:14:1128302.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1128302. eCollection 2023.

Evolution of antibody profiles against SARS-CoV-2 in experienced and naïve vaccinated elderly people

Iván Sanz-Muñoz  1   2 , Rosa López-Mongil  3 , Javier Sánchez-Martínez  1   2 , Laura Sánchez-de Prada  1 , Marta Domínguez-Gil González  1   4 , Diana Pérez-SanJose  1 , Silvia Rojo-Rello  1   5 , Cristina Hernán-García  1   6 , Virginia Fernández-Espinilla  1   6 , Raúl Ortiz de Lejarazu-Leonardo  1 , Javier Castrodeza-Sanz  1   6 , José María Eiros  1   4   5
Affiliations
Observational Study

Evolution of antibody profiles against SARS-CoV-2 in experienced and naïve vaccinated elderly people

Iván Sanz-Muñoz et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Introduction: The third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is especially necessary in people over 65 years of age due to their lower immune response.

Methods: We designed a multicentre, prospective observational study including 98 people ≤65 years old who lived in two nursing homes in Valladolid, Spain. One of the groups had previous experience with SARS-CoV-2 (n=68;69.4%) and the other was naïve (n=30;30.6%). We evaluated the response to the three doses of the Comirnaty vaccine and the dynamics of antibodies during 5 consecutive serum samplings: 2 after the first two doses of vaccination, one three months after the first dose, another at 6 months and the last one month after the third dose. IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 S1, RBD and N antigens were analysed.

Results: Both groups increased the level of Abs against S1 and RBD, but the experienced group showed a 130-fold higher humoral response due to hybrid immunisation (infection+vaccination). The response to vaccination with Comirnaty against COVID-19 was higher in those ≤65 years with previous experience than those who were naïve. However, the amount of antibodies against S1 and RBD equalised at 6 months. After the third dose, both groups raised the amount of antibodies to a similar level. The reinfections suggested by the analysis of antibodies against N were frequent in both groups.

Discussion: The third dose showed a clear benefit for elderly people, with the reinforcement of the antibody levels after the decline suffered after six months of the first two doses.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS – CoV – 2; booster; elderly; nursing homes; third dose (booster).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that this research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT diagram for patient selection, sampling dates and allocation. In brackets, the consecutive sampling number is described for guidance.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Median IgG levels [log2 AU/µl] (arbitrary units/µl [IQR]) against the S1 and RBD antigens of SARS-CoV-2 in both the experienced and naïve elderly groups analysed. ****p < 0.0001.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Median IgG levels [log2 AU/µl] (arbitrary units/µl [IQR]) against the S1 and RBD antigens of SARS-CoV-2 in both the experienced and naïve elderly groups analysed. *p < 0.05, ****p < 0.0001.
Figure 4
Figure 4
IgG levels [AU/µl] (arbitrary units/µl) against the N antigen of SARS-CoV-2 in each person included in both the experienced and naïve elderly groups. (A), Experienced individuals from 1 to 20; (B), Experienced individuals from 21 to 40; (C), Experienced individuals from 41 to 68; (D), Naïve individuals from 1 to 15; (E), Naïve individuals from 16 to 30. The number indicates the individual position of each person in the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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