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Abou-Saleh H, Abo-Halawa BY, Younes S, Younes N, Al-Sadeq DW, Shurrab FM, Liu N, Qotba H, Al-Dewik N, Ismail A, Yassine HM, Abu-Raddad LJ, Nasrallah GK. Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are higher but decline faster in mRNA vaccinees compared to individuals with natural infection. J Travel Med 2022; 29:6808421. [PMID: 36342115 PMCID: PMC9793397 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taac130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Waning protection against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants by pre-existing antibodies elicited because of current vaccination or natural infection is a global concern. Whether this is due to the waning of immunity to SARS-COV-2 remains unclear. AIM We aimed to investigate the dynamics of antibody isotype responses amongst vaccinated naïve (VN) and naturally infected (NI) individuals. METHODS We followed up antibody levels in COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA)-vaccinated subjects without prior infection (VN, n = 100) in two phases: phase-I (P-I) at ~ 1.4 and phase-II (P-II) at ~ 5.3 months. Antibody levels were compared with those of unvaccinated and naturally infected subjects (NI, n = 40) at ~ 1.7 (P-1) and 5.2 (P-II) months post-infection. Neutralizing antibodies (NTAb), anti-S-RBD-IgG, -IgM and anti-S-IgA isotypes were measured. RESULTS The VN group elicited significantly greater antibody responses (P < 0.001) than the NI group at P-I, except for IgM. In the VN group, a significant waning in antibody response was observed in all isotypes. There was about an ~ 4-fold decline in NTAb levels (P < 0.001), anti-S-RBD-IgG (~5-fold, P < 0.001), anti-S-RBD-IgM (~6-fold, P < 0.001) and anti-S1-IgA (2-fold, P < 0.001). In the NI group, a significant but less steady decline was notable in S-RBD-IgM (~2-fold, P < 0.001), and a much smaller but significant difference in NTAb (<2-fold, P < 0.001) anti-S-RBD IgG (<2-fold, P = 0.005). Unlike the VN group, the NI group mounted a lasting anti-S1-IgA response with no significant decline. Anti-S1-IgA, which were ~ 3-fold higher in VN subjects compared with NI in P-1 (P < 0.001), dropped to almost the same levels, with no significant difference observed between the two groups in P-II. CONCLUSION Whereas double-dose mRNA vaccination boosted antibody levels, vaccinated individuals' 'boost' was relatively short-lived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haissam Abou-Saleh
- Biological Science Program, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Bushra Y Abo-Halawa
- Biological Science Program, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Salma Younes
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nadin Younes
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Duaa W Al-Sadeq
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,College of Medicine, Q.U. Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Na Liu
- Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hamda Qotba
- Department of Clinical Research, Primary Health Care Centers, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nader Al-Dewik
- Department of Pediatrics, Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ahmed Ismail
- Laboratory Section, Medical Commission Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hadi M Yassine
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Laith J Abu-Raddad
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar.,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, USA
| | - Gheyath K Nasrallah
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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