Lineage-specific neutralising antibodies after SARS-CoV-2 mild disease. Immune boosting effect of vaccination
Authors: Davina-Nunez Carlos , Perez-Castro Sonia , Cabrera-Alvargonzalez Jorge-Julio , Gonzalez-Alonso Elena , Silva-Bea Sergio , Rodriguez-Perez Miriam , Figueroa-Lamas Maria del Pilar , Perez-Gonzalez Alexandre , del Campo Víctor , Rojas Almudena , Mendoza Joaquin , Regueiro-Garcia Benito 
Published: November 2024

We followed a group of 105 non-vaccinated individuals after Alpha or Delta SARS-CoV-2 mild disease, measuring the viral shedding (qRT-PCR, dPCR and subgenomic RNA-E) and humoral response (commercial immunoassay and pseudovirus and live virus neutralisation) up to six months. Sixty nine patients received a vaccination boost during the follow-up period (n=95). Subgenomic RNA-E showed a shorter period until negativity (mean 2.2 weeks) compared to gRNA (mean 5.2 weeks). A high correlation between qRT-PCR and dPCR was found for viral load estimation, even when no nucleic acid extraction was used in dPCR (R2= 0.87). Post-convalescent sera showed the strongest neutralisation against the variant of natural exposure, while the neutralisation capacity against Omicron variants was significantly lower compared to the other variants. Additionally, the results suggested that commercial immunoassays may not accurately predict protection against a different variant than the variant of exposure. An immune boosting effect of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was evident.

Variant-specific neutralising antibodies were detected one month after natural infection. Although short lived, maximum igG response was observed after hybrid immunisation (natural infection + vaccination). This study also points to potential improvements in the clinical management of SARS-CoV-2 cases. Firstly, subgenomic RNA-E is a potentially more accurate biomarker of infectivity than current qRT-PCRs using genomic RNA as target. Secondly, accuracy of high-throughput immunoassays must be validated in order to estimate specific protection and organise vaccination campaigns. Our findings could play a role in the current implementation of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine programs.

Author Summary

Years after SARS-CoV-2 related infections challenged the healthcare systems of the whole world, the optimal strategy to deal with diagnosis, quarantines or vaccination patterns is still a matter of debate. The interplay between infectivity and immunity in the different circulating variants is complex, and qPCR for diagnosis may extend quarantines, as detection of viral RNA does not necessarily mean that the virus remains infectious.

We studied a group of patients infected with pre-Omicron variants to study how their variant-specific antibodies reacted to the past and present variants of SARS-CoV-2. In both Alpha and Delta, antibodies neutralise their own variants better than other variants that came before and after. Perhaps most importantly, neutralisation was lowest against Omicron variants.

We followed the viral shedding dynamics of the patients, testing different PCR techniques and targets. Subgenomic RNA was detectable in nasopharyngeal samples for a shorter time than genomic RNA and it has been suggested as a good marker of infectivity. Using sgRNA instead of genomic RNA as a PCR target could reduce hospital bed occupation and quarantine time. Overall, we hope that these results could help guide pandemic and diagnostic control in the future.