DataSheet_1_Antibody responses in blood and saliva post COVID-19 bivalent booster do not reveal an Omicron BA.4/BA.5- specific response.pdf

IntroductionCurrent SARS-CoV-2 strains continue to mutate and attempt to evade the antibody response elicited by previous exposures and vaccinations. In September of 2022, the first updated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, designed to create immune responses specific for the variants circulating in 2022, were approved. These new vaccines, known commonly as the bivalent boost(er), include mRNA that encodes both the original Wuhan-Hu-1 spike protein as well as the spike protein specific to the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants.
MethodsWe recruited volunteers from University of Massachusetts student, faculty and staff members to provide samples of blood and saliva at four different time points, including pre-boost and three times post boost and analyzed samples for antibody production as well as neutralization of virus.
ResultsOur data provide a comprehensive analysis of the antibody response following a single dose of the bivalent boost over a 6-month period and support previous findings that the response induced after the bivalent boost does not create a strong BA.4/BA.5-specific antibody response.
ConclusionWe found no evidence of a specific anti-BA.4/BA.5 response developing over time, including in a sub-population of individuals who become infected after a single dose of the bivalent booster. Additionally, we present data that support the use of saliva samples as a reliable alternative to blood for antibody detection against specific SARS-CoV-2 antigens.

引言 当前的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2型（SARS-CoV-2）毒株仍在持续突变，以逃避既往感染或疫苗接种所诱导的抗体免疫应答。2022年9月，首批旨在针对2022年流行变异株诱导特异性免疫应答的更新版SARS-CoV-2疫苗获批上市。这类新型疫苗通常被称为二价加强针（bivalent booster），其包含的信使核糖核酸（mRNA）既编码原始Wuhan-Hu-1株刺突蛋白，也编码奥密克戎BA.4与BA.5变异株特异性刺突蛋白。
研究方法 本研究从马萨诸塞大学招募学生、教职员工作为志愿者，在加强针接种前及接种后三个时间点共四个采样节点采集血液与唾液样本，并对样本的抗体生成水平及病毒中和活性开展检测分析。
研究结果 本研究数据对单剂二价加强针接种后6个月随访期内的抗体免疫应答进行了全面分析，验证了既往研究结论：二价加强针诱导的免疫应答无法产生较强的BA.4/BA.5特异性抗体应答。
研究结论 本研究未发现随时间推移产生特异性抗BA.4/BA.5免疫应答的证据，即使在单剂二价加强针接种后发生突破性感染的亚人群中亦是如此。此外，本研究数据证实，唾液样本可作为血液样本的可靠替代方案，用于针对特定SARS-CoV-2抗原的抗体检测。