Cited by 117SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchImmune responses and vaccinationsT-cell and B-cell Immunology

Persistent B cell memory after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is functional during breakthrough infections

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Terreri, Sara, Piano Mortari, Eva, Vinci, Maria Rosaria, Russo, Cristina, Alteri, Claudia, Albano, Christian, Colavita, Francesca, Gramigna, Giulia +22 more·2022·Cell Host & Microbe

Abstract

Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in fully vaccinated individuals are considered a consequence of waning immunity. Serum antibodies represent the most measurable outcome of vaccine-induced B cell memory. When antibodies decline, memory B cells are expected to persist and perform their function, preventing clinical disease. We investigated whether BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine induces durable and functional B cell memory in vivo against SARS-CoV-2 3, 6, and 9 months after the second dose in a cohort of health care workers (HCWs). While we observed physiological decline of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, memory B cells persist and increase until 9 months after immunization. HCWs with breakthrough infections had no signs of waning immunity. In 3-4 days, memory B cells responded to SARS-CoV-2 infection by producing high levels of specific antibodies in the serum and anti-Spike IgA in the saliva. Antibodies to the viral nucleoprotein were produced with the slow kinetics typical of the response to a novel antigen.

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Authors
Terreri, S., Piano Mortari, E., Vinci, M. R., Russo, C., Alteri, C., Albano, C., Colavita, F., Gramigna, G., Agrati, C., Linardos, G., Coltella, L., Colagrossi, L., Deriu, G., Ciofi Degli Atti, M., Rizzo, C., Scarsella, M., Brugaletta, R., Camisa, V., Santoro, A., Roscilli, G., Pavoni, E., Muzi, A., Magnavita, N., Scutari, R., Villani, A., Raponi, M., Locatelli, F., Perno, C. F., Zaffina, S., & Carsetti, R.
Affiliations
  • Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IT)
  • University of Milan (IT)
  • Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani (IT)
  • Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
Corresponding author
Carsetti, Rita
Venue
Cell Host & Microbe
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-03
Volume
30
Issue
3
Pages
400-408.e4
ISSN
1931-3128 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4220881395
Cited by
117
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 38
FWCI
6.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Host & Microbe (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • SSRN Electronic Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (University of Pisa) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Cineca Institutional Research Information System (Tor Vergata University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome) (submittedVersion)
  • PubliCatt (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Ministero della Salute
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune responses and vaccinations
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, memory B cells, breakthrough infection, waning immunity, saliva antibodies, nucleoprotein antibodies, healthcare workers, vaccine durability
MeSH terms
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Vaccines, mRNA Vaccines, BNT162 Vaccine, Antibodies, Viral, Humans, Vaccination, Vaccines, Synthetic

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