A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Neutralizing antibodies after the third COVID-19 vaccination in healthcare workers with or without breakthrough infection




AuthorsReinholm Arttu, Maljanen Sari, Jalkanen Pinja, Altan Eda, Tauriainen Sisko, Belik Milja, Skön Marika, Haveri Anu, Österlund Pamela, Iakubovskaia Alina, Pasternack Arja, Naves Rauno A., Ritvos Olli, Miettinen Simo, Häkkinen Hanni K., Ivaska Lauri, Tähtinen Paula A., Lempainen Johanna, Kantele Anu, Kakkola Laura, Julkunen Ilkka, Kolehmainen Pekka

PublisherSpringer Nature

Publication year2024

JournalCommunications medicine

Journal name in sourceCOMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE

Article number28

Volume4

Issue1

ISSN2730-664X

eISSN2730-664X

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00457-3

Web address https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-024-00457-3

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/393346426


Abstract

Background
Vaccinations against the SARS-CoV-2 are still crucial in combating the ongoing pandemic that has caused more than 700 million infections and claimed almost 7 million lives in the past four years. Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants have incurred mutations that challenge the protection against infection and severe disease by the current vaccines, potentially compromising vaccination efforts.

Methods
We analyzed serum samples taken up to 9 months post third dose from 432 healthcare workers. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and microneutralization tests (MNT) were used to assess the prevalence of vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies against various SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants.

Results
In this serological analysis we show that SARS-CoV-2 vaccine combinations of BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and ChAdOx1 mount SARS-CoV-2 binding and neutralizing antibodies with similar kinetics, but with differing neutralization capabilities. The most recent Omicron variants, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.5, show a significant increase in the ability to escape vaccine and infection-induced antibody responses. Breakthrough infections in thrice vaccinated adults were seen in over 50% of the vaccinees, resulting in a stronger antibody response than without infection.

Conclusions
Different three-dose vaccine combinations seem to induce considerable levels of neutralizing antibodies against most SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, the ability of the newer variants BQ1.1 and XBB 1.5 to escape vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody responses underlines the importance of updating vaccines as new variants emerge.


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Funding information in the publication
This study was supported by the Academy of Finland (grant number 337530 to I.J., 339512 to L.K., and 336439 and 335527 to A.K.), Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation (grant numbers 3067-84b53 and 5360-cc2fc to I.J.), The Finnish Government Subsidy for Health Science Research (TYH2023238, to A.K.), the Finnish Medical Association (to A.K.) and the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation (to I.J. and L.K.).


Last updated on 2024-28-11 at 12:14