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SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines (e.g., Moderna and Pfizer-N-BioTech) are effective in preventing infection and have even greater efficacy in preventing severe COVID-19 illness and hospitalization. However, many people in the United States received their vaccine early in 2021, more than six months before the time of this writing. Whether the protection afforded by vaccination lasts as time passes and more SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge is unclear. Findings of a report published in August provide insights into long-term immunity following vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection, concerns about emerging variants, and implications for vaccination boosters.

During infection with a virus, the innate immune system immediately produces inflammation to fight the infection. Within days or weeks, the adaptive immune system produces antibodies that are specific to the virus. These antibodies bind to a small piece of the viral particle, called an antigen. White blood cells such as macrophages and neutrophils participate in the innate response, while B and T cells facilitate the adaptive response. Plasma B cells are responsible for producing antibodies; however, these cells steadily decrease in number over time. Memory B cells store the genetic information needed to produce virus-specific antibodies upon reinfection. Memory T cells are also responsible for “remembering” viruses in this way. Memory CD4+ T cells rapidly respond to reinfection to support inflammation and antibody production. Memory CD8+ T cells, also called cytotoxic T cells, bind to virus-infected host cells and order them to undergo apoptosis (i.e., programmed cell death).

The authors of the report analyzed a set of 342 blood samples collected from 61 participants at one, three, and six months following vaccination. This group of participants included SARS-CoV-2 naive individuals (i.e., those who were never infected with the virus) and SARS-CoV-2 recovered individuals. The investigators measured the concentration of circulating antibodies that bind to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain protein and spike protein. They also measured the concentration of memory B cells and T cells and characterized these cells’ response when challenged with SARS-CoV-2 antigens.

The concentration of serum antibodies declined over time, but was still detectable at six months post-vaccination. mRNA vaccination produced memory B cells that respond to the receptor binding domain protein of the Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants, called cross-binding memory. These memory B cells had significantly more hypermutation, the process by which B cells rearrange their DNA in order to produce antibodies to new antigens, and increased in concentration between three and six months post-vaccination. Cross-binding B cells were more common in SARS-CoV-2 recovered patients than naive patients. mRNA vaccination also increased memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

The immune response to mRNA vaccination and infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus evolves over time, which may have implications for the future use of booster vaccines. These results should be considered with caution as this research has yet to be peer-reviewed.

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