Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection rescues B and T cell responses to variants after first vaccine dose
Authors: Reynolds Catherine J. , Pade Corinna , Gibbons Joseph M. , Butler David K. , Otter Ashley D. , Menacho Katia , Fontana Marianna , Smit Angelique , Sackville-West Jane E. , Cutino-Moguel Teresa , Maini Mala K. , Chain Benjamin , Noursadeghi Mahdad ,   UK COVIDsortium Immune Correlates Network, Brooks Tim , Semper Amanda , Manisty Charlotte , Treibel Thomas A. , Moon James C. ,   UK COVIDsortium Investigators, Valdes Ana M. , McKnight Áine , Altmann Daniel M. , Boyton Rosemary , Abbass Hakam , Abiodun Aderonke , Alfarih Mashael , Alldis Zoe , Altmann Daniel M. , Amin Oliver E. , Andiapen Mervyn , Artico Jessica , Augusto João B. , Baca Georgina L. , Bailey Sasha N. L. , Bhuva Anish N. , Boulter Alex , Bowles Ruth , Boyton Rosemary J. , Bracken Olivia V. , O’Brien Ben , Brooks Tim , Bullock Natalie , Butler David K. , Captur Gabriella , Champion Nicola , Chan Carmen , Chandran Aneesh , Collier David , Couto de Sousa Jorge , Couto-Parada Xose , Cutino-Moguel Teresa , Davies Rhodri H. , Douglas Brooke , Di Genova Cecilia , Dieobi-Anene Keenan , Diniz Mariana O. , Ellis Anaya , Feehan Karen , Finlay Malcolm , Fontana Marianna , Forooghi Nasim , Gaier Celia , Gibbons Joseph M. , Gilroy Derek , Hamblin Matt , Harker Gabrielle , Hewson Jacqueline , Heywood Wendy , Hickling Lauren M. , Hingorani Aroon D. , Howes Lee , Hughes Alun , Hughes Gemma , Hughes Rebecca , Itua Ivie , Jardim Victor , Lee Wing-Yiu Jason , Jensen Melaniepetra , Jones Jessica , Jones Meleri , Joy George , Kapil Vikas , Kurdi Hibba , Lambourne Jonathan , Lin Kai-Min , Louth Sarah , Maini Mala K. , Mandadapu Vineela , Manisty Charlotte , McKnight Áine , Menacho Katia , Mfuko Celina , Mills Kevin , Mitchelmore Oliver , Moon Christopher , Moon James C. , Munoz-Sandoval Diana , Murray Sam M. , Noursadeghi Mahdad , Otter Ashley , Pade Corinna , Palma Susana , Parker Ruth , Patel Kush , Pawarova Babita , Petersen Steffen E. , Piniera Brian , Pieper Franziska P. , Pope Daniel , Prossora Mary , Rannigan Lisa , Rapala Alicja , Reynolds Catherine J. , Richards Amy , Robathan Matthew , Rosenheim Joshua , Sambile Genine , Schmidt Nathalie M. , Semper Amanda , Seraphim Andreas , Simion Mihaela , Smit Angelique , Sugimoto Michelle , Swadling Leo , Taylor Stephen , Temperton Nigel , Thomas Stephen , Thornton George D. , Treibel Thomas A. , Tucker Art , Veerapen Jessry , Vijayakumar Mohit , Welch Sophie , Wodehouse Theresa , Wynne Lucinda , Zahedi Dan , Chain Benjamin 
Published: April 2021

A boost from infection

During clinical trials of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccines, no one who had survived infection with the virus was tested. A year after the pandemic was declared, vaccination of previously infected persons is a reality. Reynolds
et al.
address the knowledge gap in a cohort of UK health care workers given the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in which half of the participants had experienced natural virus infections early in the pandemic (see the Perspective by Crotty). Genotyping indicated that a genetic component underlies heterogeneity in immune responses to vaccine and to natural infection. After vaccination, naïve individuals developed antibody responses similar to those seen in naturally infected persons, but T cell responses were more limited and sometimes absent. However, antibody and memory responses in individuals vaccinated after infection were substantially boosted to the extent that a single vaccine dose is likely to protect against the more aggressive B.1.1.7 variant. It is possible that the messenger RNA vaccine has an adjuvant effect, biasing responses toward antibody generation.

Science
, abh1282, this issue p.
1418
; see also abj2258, p.
1392