Protective antibodies and T cell responses to Omicron variant after the booster dose of BNT162b2 vaccine

ABSTRACT

The high number of mutations in the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 causes its immune escape. We report a longitudinal analysis of 111 vaccinated individuals for their antibody levels up to six months after the third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine. After the third dose, the antibody levels decline but less than after the second dose. The booster dose remarkably increases the serum ability to block wild-type or Omicron variant Spike protein’s receptor binding domain (RBD) interaction with the ACE2 receptor, and these protective antibodies persist three months later. Three months after the booster dose, memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to the wild-type and Omicron variant are detectable in the majority of vaccinated individuals. Our data show that the third dose restores the high levels of blocking antibodies and enhances T cell responses to Omicron. Graphical Highlights After the 3rd BNT162b2 dose the antibody levels decline but slower than after the 2nd The protective antibodies persist for at least 3 months after the 3rd dose 81% of individuals have T cell responses to Omicron at three months after 3rd dose Naaber et al. monitor the individuals vaccinated with BNT162b2 up to 6 months after the 3rd dose. The S-RBD IgG levels decline but slower after the 3rd than 2nd dose. The booster restores the serum ability to block wildtype and Omicron RBD interaction with the ACE2 and boosts cellular immunity.