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- Title
Booster Immunization Improves Memory B Cell Responses in Older Adults Unresponsive to Primary SARS-CoV-2 Immunization.
- Authors
Verheul, Marije K.; Nijhof, Kim H.; de Zeeuw-Brouwer, Mary-lène; Duijm, Geraly; ten Hulscher, Hinke; de Rond, Lia; Beckers, Lisa; Eggink, Dirk; van Tol, Sophie; Reimerink, Johan; Boer, Mardi; van Beek, Josine; Rots, Nynke; van Binnendijk, Rob; Buisman, Anne-Marie
- Abstract
The generation of a specific long-term immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is considered important for protection against COVID-19 infection and disease. Memory B cells, responsible for the generation of antibody-producing plasmablasts upon a new antigen encounter, play an important role in this process. Therefore, the induction of memory B cell responses after primary and booster SARS-CoV-2 immunizations was investigated in the general population with an emphasis on older adults. Participants, 20–99 years of age, due to receive the mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were included in the current study. Specific memory B cells were determined by ex vivo ELISpot assays. In a subset of participants, antibody levels, avidity, and virus neutralization capacity were compared to memory B cell responses. Memory B cells specific for both Spike S1 and receptor-binding domain (RBD) were detected in the majority of participants following the primary immunization series. However, a proportion of predominantly older adults showed low frequencies of specific memory B cells. Booster vaccination resulted in a large increase in the frequencies of S1- and RBD-specific memory B cells also for those in which low memory B cell frequencies were detected after the primary series. These data show that booster immunization is important for the generation of a memory B cell response, as a subset of older adults shows a suboptimal response to the primary SARS-CoV-2 immunization series. It is anticipated that these memory B cells will play a significant role in the immune response following viral re-exposure.
- Subjects
IMMUNOLOGIC memory; OLDER people; AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL memory; COVID-19 vaccines; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19
- Publication
Vaccines, 2023, Vol 11, Issue 7, p1196
- ISSN
2076-393X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/vaccines11071196