ABSTRACT
Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are important to protect against infection and/or disease. Using an assay to detect antibodies directed against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 Spike, we identified individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection after an outbreak at a local health institution. All but one COVID-19 patient developed detectable anti-RBD antibodies and 77% had virus neutralizing antibody titers of >1:25. Antibody levels declined slightly over time. However, we still detected virus neutralizing antibody titers in 64% of the COVID-19 patients at >300 days after infection, demonstrating durability of neutralizing antibody levels after infection. Importantly, full COVID-19 vaccination of these individuals resulted in higher antibody titers compared to fully vaccinated individuals in the absence of prior infection. These data demonstrate long-lived antibody-mediated immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and a clear benefit of two vaccine doses for recovered individuals.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 Vaccines , Humans , SARS-CoV-2 , VaccinationABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: One dose of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine can elicit high antibody titers in individuals who were previously infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, it is unclear how a SARS-CoV-2 infection shortly after a first COVID-19 vaccine dose affects antibody responses. METHODS: Here we investigate residents and staff of a nursing home, where a COVID-19 outbreak occurred shortly after the first BNT162b2 immunization. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that individuals who got infected as early as 10 days after their first immunization show antibody levels comparable to fully vaccinated individuals.