Immune boosting by B.1.1.529
(
Omicron) depends on previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure
Authors: Reynolds Catherine J. , Pade Corinna , Gibbons Joseph M. , Otter Ashley D. , Lin Kai-Min , Muñoz Sandoval Diana , Pieper Franziska P. , Butler David K. , Liu Siyi , Joy George , Forooghi Nasim , Treibel Thomas A. , Manisty Charlotte , Moon James C. ,   COVIDsortium Investigators§,   COVIDsortium Immune Correlates Network§, Semper Amanda , Brooks Tim , McKnight Áine , Altmann Daniel M. , Boyton Rosemary J. , 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 , Carr Olivia , Champion Nicola , Chan Carmen , Chandran Aneesh , Coleman Tom , Couto de Sousa Jorge , Couto-Parada Xose , Cross Eleanor , Cutino-Moguel Teresa , D’Arcangelo Silvia , Davies Rhodri H. , Douglas Brooke , Di Genova Cecilia , Dieobi-Anene Keenan , Diniz Mariana O. , Ellis Anaya , Feehan Karen , Finlay Malcolm , Fontana Marianna , Forooghi Nasim , Francis Sasha , Gibbons Joseph M. , Gillespie David , Gilroy Derek , Hamblin Matt , Harker Gabrielle , Hemingway Georgia , Hewson Jacqueline , Heywood Wendy , Hickling Lauren M. , Hicks Bethany , Hingorani Aroon D. , Howes Lee , Itua Ivie , Jardim Victor , Lee Wing-Yiu Jason , Jensen Melaniepetra , Jones Jessica , Jones Meleri , Joy George , Kapil Vikas , Kelly Caoimhe , Kurdi Hibba , Lambourne Jonathan , Lin Kai-Min , Liu Siyi , Lloyd Aaron , Louth Sarah , Maini Mala K. , Mandadapu Vineela , Manisty Charlotte , McKnight Áine , Menacho Katia , Mfuko Celina , Mills Kevin , Millward Sebastian , Mitchelmore Oliver , Moon Christopher , Moon James , Muñoz Sandoval Diana , Murray Sam M. , Noursadeghi Mahdad , Otter Ashley , Pade Corinna , Palma Susana , Parker Ruth , Patel Kush , Pawarova Mihaela , Petersen Steffen E. , Piniera Brian , Pieper Franziska P. , Rannigan Lisa , Rapala Alicja , Reynolds Catherine J. , Richards Amy , Robathan Matthew , Rosenheim Joshua , Rowe Cathy , Royds Matthew , Sackville West Jane , Sambile Genine , Schmidt Nathalie M. , Selman Hannah , 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 , Varghese Ann , Veerapen Jessry , Vijayakumar Mohit , Warner Tim , Welch Sophie , White Hannah , Wodehouse Theresa , Wynne Lucinda , Zahedi Dan , Chain Benjamin , Moon James C. 
Published: June 2022

The Omicron, or Pango lineage B.1.1.529, variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) carries multiple spike mutations with high transmissibility and partial neutralizing antibody (nAb) escape. Vaccinated individuals show protection against severe disease, often attributed to primed cellular immunity. We investigated T and B cell immunity against B.1.1.529 in triple BioNTech BNT162b2 messenger RNA–vaccinated health care workers (HCWs) with different SARS-CoV-2 infection histories. B and T cell immunity against previous variants of concern was enhanced in triple-vaccinated individuals, but the magnitude of T and B cell responses against B.1.1.529 spike protein was reduced. Immune imprinting by infection with the earlier B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant resulted in less durable binding antibody against B.1.1.529. Previously infection-naïve HCWs who became infected during the B.1.1.529 wave showed enhanced immunity against earlier variants but reduced nAb potency and T cell responses against B.1.1.529 itself. Previous Wuhan Hu-1 infection abrogated T cell recognition and any enhanced cross-reactive neutralizing immunity on infection with B.1.1.529.