Four SARS-CoV-2 vaccines induce quantitatively different antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Emerging and future SARS-CoV-2 variants may jeopardize the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns. We performed a head-to-head comparison of the ability of sera from individuals vaccinated with either one of four vaccines (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, AZD1222 or Ad26.COV2.S) to recognize and neutralize the four SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs; Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta). Four weeks after completing the vaccination series, SARS-CoV-2 wild-type neutralizing antibody titers were highest in recipients of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 (median titers of 1891 and 3061, respectively), and substantially lower in those vaccinated with the adenovirus vector-based vaccines AZD1222 and Ad26.COV2.S (median titers of 241 and 119, respectively). VOCs neutralization was reduced in all vaccine groups, with the largest (5.8-fold) reduction in neutralization being observed against the Beta variant. Overall, the mRNA vaccines appear superior to adenovirus vector-based vaccines in inducing neutralizing antibodies against VOCs four weeks after the final vaccination.

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Glycosylation of Immunodominant Linear Epitopes in the Carboxy-Terminal Region of the Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus Surface Envelope Enhances Vaccine-Induced Type-Specific and Cross-Reactive Neutralizing Antibody Responses

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.78.17.9190-9202.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 78 (17) ◽

pp. 9190-9202 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

J. D. Trujillo ◽

N. M. Kumpula-McWhirter ◽

K. J. Hötzel ◽

M. Gonzalez ◽

W. P. Cheevers

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Wild Type ◽

Virus Surface ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Linear Epitopes ◽

Carboxy Terminal

ABSTRACT This study evaluated type-specific and cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies induced by immunization with modified surface glycoproteins (SU) of the 63 isolate of caprine arthritis-encephalitis lentivirus (CAEV-63). Epitope mapping of sera from CAEV-infected goats localized immunodominant linear epitopes in the carboxy terminus of SU. Two modified SU (SU-M and SU-T) and wild-type CAEV-63 SU (SU-W) were produced in vaccinia virus and utilized to evaluate the effects of glycosylation or the deletion of immunodominant linear epitopes on neutralizing antibody responses induced by immunization. SU-M contained two N-linked glycosylation sites inserted into the target epitopes by R539S and E542N mutations. SU-T was truncated at 518A, upstream from the target epitopes, by introduction of termination codons at 519Y and 521Y. Six yearling Saanen goats were immunized subcutaneously with 30 μg of SU-W, SU-M, or SU-T in Quil A adjuvant and boosted at 3, 7, and 16 weeks. SU antibody titers determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated anamnestic responses after each boost. Wild-type and modified SU-induced type-specific CAEV-63 neutralizing antibodies and cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against CAEV-Co, a virus isolate closely related to CAEV-63, and CAEV-1g5, an isolate geographically distinct from CAEV-63, were determined. Immunization with SU-T resulted in altered recognition of SU linear epitopes and a 2.8- to 4.6-fold decrease in neutralizing antibody titers against CAEV-63, CAEV-Co, and CAEV-1g5 compared to titers of SU-W-immunized goats. In contrast, immunization with SU-M resulted in reduced recognition of glycosylated epitopes and a 2.4- to 2.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibody titers compared to titers of SU-W-immunized goats. Thus, the glycosylation of linear immunodominant nonneutralization epitopes, but not epitope deletion, is an effective strategy to enhance neutralizing antibody responses by immunization.

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Vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern protects mice from challenge with wild-type virus

PLoS Biology ◽

10.1371/journal.pbio.3001384 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (12) ◽

pp. e3001384

Author(s):

Fatima Amanat ◽

Shirin Strohmeier ◽

Philip Meade ◽

Nicholas Dambrauskas ◽

Barbara Mühlemann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mouse Model ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Wild Type Virus ◽

Type Virus ◽

Wild Type ◽

Fold Reduction ◽

Reactive Antibody

Vaccines against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been highly efficient in protecting against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the emergence of viral variants that are more transmissible and, in some cases, escape from neutralizing antibody responses has raised concerns. Here, we evaluated recombinant protein spike antigens derived from wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and from variants B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 for their immunogenicity and protective effect in vivo against challenge with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 in the mouse model. All proteins induced high neutralizing antibodies against the respective viruses but also induced high cross-neutralizing antibody responses. The decline in neutralizing titers between variants was moderate, with B.1.1.7-vaccinated animals having a maximum fold reduction of 4.8 against B.1.351 virus. P.1 induced the most cross-reactive antibody responses but was also the least immunogenic in terms of homologous neutralization titers. However, all antigens protected from challenge with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 in a mouse model.

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Vaccination with B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1 variants protects mice from challenge with wild type SARS-CoV-2

10.1101/2021.08.05.455212 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fatima Amanat ◽

Shirin Strohmeier ◽

Philip Meade ◽

Nicholas Dambrauskas ◽

Barbara Mühlemann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Recombinant Protein ◽

Mouse Model ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Wild Type ◽

Fold Reduction ◽

Reactive Antibody

Vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been highly efficient in protecting against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the emergence of viral variants that are more transmissible and, in some cases, escape from neutralizing antibody responses has raised concerns. Here, we evaluated recombinant protein spike antigens derived from wild type SARS-CoV-2 and from variants B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1 for their immunogenicity and protective effect in vivo against challenge with wild type SARS-CoV-2 in the mouse model. All proteins induced high neutralizing antibodies against the respective viruses but also induced high cross-neutralizing antibody responses. The decline in neutralizing titers between variants was moderate, with B.1.1.7 vaccinated animals having a maximum fold reduction of 4.8 against B.1.351 virus. P.1 induced the most cross-reactive antibody responses but was also the least immunogenic in terms of homologous neutralization titers. However, all antigens protected from challenge with wild type SARS-CoV-2 in a mouse model.

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A single immunization with spike-functionalized ferritin vaccines elicits neutralizing antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 in mice

10.1101/2020.08.28.272518 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Abigail E. Powell ◽

Kaiming Zhang ◽

Mrinmoy Sanyal ◽

Shaogeng Tang ◽

Payton A. Weidenbacher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Dose ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Subunit Vaccine ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Amino Acid Deletion ◽

Vaccine Candidates ◽

Self Assembling ◽

Antibody Titers

AbstractDevelopment of a safe and effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is a public health priority. We designed subunit vaccine candidates using self-assembling ferritin nanoparticles displaying one of two multimerized SARS-CoV-2 spikes: full-length ectodomain (S-Fer) or a C-terminal 70 amino-acid deletion (SΔC-Fer). Ferritin is an attractive nanoparticle platform for production of vaccines and ferritin-based vaccines have been investigated in humans in two separate clinical trials. We confirmed proper folding and antigenicity of spike on the surface of ferritin by cryo-EM and binding to conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies. After a single immunization of mice with either of the two spike ferritin particles, a lentiviral SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus assay revealed mean neutralizing antibody titers at least 2-fold greater than those in convalescent plasma from COVID-19 patients. Additionally, a single dose of SΔC-Fer elicited significantly higher neutralizing responses as compared to immunization with the spike receptor binding domain (RBD) monomer or spike ectodomain trimer alone. After a second dose, mice immunized with SΔC-Fer exhibited higher neutralizing titers than all other groups. Taken together, these results demonstrate that multivalent presentation of SARS-CoV-2 spike on ferritin can notably enhance elicitation of neutralizing antibodies, thus constituting a viable strategy for single-dose vaccination against COVID-19.

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Sex disparities and neutralizing antibody durability to SARS-CoV-2 infection in convalescent individuals

10.1101/2021.02.01.21250493 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alena J. Markmann ◽

Natasa Giallourou ◽

D. Ryan Bhowmik ◽

Yixuan J. Hou ◽

Aaron Lerner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Human Antibody ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Sex Disparities ◽

Binding Antibody ◽

Male Sex ◽

Antibody Levels ◽

First Time

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has now caused over 2 million deaths worldwide and continues to expand. Currently, much is unknown about functionally neutralizing human antibody responses and durability to SARS-CoV-2. Using convalescent sera collected from 101 COVID-19 recovered individuals 21-212 days after symptom onset with forty-eight additional longitudinal samples, we measured functionality and durability of serum antibodies. We also evaluated associations between individual demographic and clinical parameters with functional neutralizing antibody responses to COVID-19. We found robust antibody durability out to six months, as well as significant positive associations with the magnitude of the neutralizing antibody response and male sex. We also show that SARS-CoV-2 convalescent neutralizing antibodies are higher in individuals with cardio-metabolic comorbidities.SignificanceIn this study we found that neutralizing antibody responses in COVID-19 convalescent individuals vary in magnitude but are durable and correlate well with RBD Ig binding antibody levels compared to other SARS-CoV-2 antigen responses. In our cohort, higher neutralizing antibody titers are independently and significantly associated with male sex compared to female sex. We also show for the first time, that higher convalescent antibody titers in male donors are associated with increased age and symptom grade. Furthermore, cardio-metabolic co-morbidities are associated with higher antibody titers independently of sex. Here, we present an in-depth evaluation of serologic, demographic, and clinical correlates of functional antibody responses and durability to SARS-CoV-2.

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Comparison of Human H3N2 Antibody Responses Elicited by Egg-Based, Cell-Based, and Recombinant Protein–Based Influenza Vaccines During the 2017–2018 Season

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciz996 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 71 (6) ◽

pp. 1447-1453 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sigrid Gouma ◽

Seth J Zost ◽

Kaela Parkhouse ◽

Angela Branche ◽

David J Topham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Recombinant Protein ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Influenza Vaccines ◽

Vaccine Antigen ◽

H3n2 Virus ◽

High Dose ◽

Wild Type ◽

H1n1 Vaccine ◽

Antibody Titers

Abstract Background The H3N2 component of egg-based 2017–2018 influenza vaccines possessed an adaptive substitution that alters antigenicity. Several influenza vaccines include antigens that are produced through alternative systems, but a systematic comparison of different vaccines used during the 2017–2018 season has not been completed. Methods We compared antibody responses in humans vaccinated with Fluzone (egg-based, n = 23), Fluzone High-Dose (egg-based, n = 16), Flublok (recombinant protein–based, n = 23), or Flucelvax (cell-based, n = 23) during the 2017–2018 season. We completed neutralization assays using an egg-adapted H3N2 virus, a cell-based H3N2 virus, wild-type 3c2.A and 3c2.A2 H3N2 viruses, and the H1N1 vaccine strain. We also performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using a recombinant wild-type 3c2.A hemagglutinin. Antibody responses were compared in adjusted analysis. Results Postvaccination neutralizing antibody titers to 3c2.A and 3c2.A2 were higher in Flublok recipients compared with Flucelvax or Fluzone recipients (P < .01). Postvaccination titers to 3c2.A and 3c2.A2 were similar in Flublok and Fluzone High-Dose recipients, though seroconversion rates trended higher in Flublok recipients. Postvaccination titers in Flucelvax recipients were low to all H3N2 viruses tested, including the cell-based H3N2 strain. Postvaccination neutralizing antibody titers to H1N1 were similar among the different vaccine groups. Conclusions These data suggest that influenza vaccine antigen match and dose are both important for eliciting optimal H3N2 antibody responses in humans. Future studies should be designed to determine if our findings directly impact vaccine effectiveness. Clinical Trials Registration NCT03068949.

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Redundancy and Plasticity of Neutralizing Antibody Responses Are Cornerstone Attributes of the Human Immune Response to the Smallpox Vaccine

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02244-07 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 82 (7) ◽

pp. 3751-3768 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Mohammed Rafii-El-Idrissi Benhnia ◽

Megan M. McCausland ◽

Hua-Poo Su ◽

Kavita Singh ◽

Julia Hoffmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Safety Net ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Smallpox Vaccine ◽

Human Antibody ◽

Neutralization Activity ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Human Immune Response ◽

Human Immune

ABSTRACT The smallpox vaccine is widely considered the gold standard for human vaccines, yet the key antibody targets in humans remain unclear. We endeavored to identify a stereotypic, dominant, mature virion (MV) neutralizing antibody target in humans which could be used as a diagnostic serological marker of protective humoral immunity induced by the smallpox vaccine (vaccinia virus [VACV]). We have instead found that diversity is a defining characteristic of the human antibody response to the smallpox vaccine. We show that H3 is the most immunodominant VACV neutralizing antibody target, as determined by correlation analysis of immunoglobulin G (IgG) specificities to MV neutralizing antibody titers. It was determined that purified human anti-H3 IgG is sufficient for neutralization of VACV; however, depletion or blockade of anti-H3 antibodies revealed no significant reduction in neutralization activity, showing anti-H3 IgG is not required in vaccinated humans (or mice) for neutralization of MV. Comparable results were obtained for human (and mouse) anti-L1 IgG and even for anti-H3 and anti-L1 IgG in combination. In addition to H3 and L1, human antibody responses to D8, A27, D13, and A14 exhibited statistically significant correlations with virus neutralization. Altogether, these data indicate the smallpox vaccine succeeds in generating strong neutralizing antibody responses not by eliciting a stereotypic response to a single key antigen but instead by driving development of neutralizing antibodies to multiple viral proteins, resulting in a “safety net” of highly redundant neutralizing antibody responses, the specificities of which can vary from individual to individual. We propose that this is a fundamental attribute of the smallpox vaccine.

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Distinct neutralizing kinetics and magnitudes elicited by different SARS-CoV-2 variant spikes

10.1101/2021.09.02.458740 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yang Liu ◽

Jianying Liu ◽

Jing Zou ◽

Ping Ren ◽

Scott C. Weaver ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rapid Evolution ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Cross Protection ◽

Wild Type ◽

Post Immunization ◽

Vaccine Booster ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Alpha Beta

AbstractThe rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 mandates a better understanding of cross-protection between variants after vaccination or infection, but studies directly evaluating such cross-protection are lacking. Here we report that immunization with different variant spikes elicits distinct neutralizing kinetics and magnitudes against other SARS-CoV-2 variants. After immunizing hamsters with wild-type or mutant SARS-CoV-2 bearing variant spikes from Alpha, Beta, Gamma, or Epsilon, the animals developed faster and greater neutralization activities against homologous SARS-CoV-2 variants than heterologous variants, including Delta. The rank of neutralizing titers against different heterologous variants varied, depending on the immunized variant spikes. The differences in neutralizing titers between homologous and heterologous variants were as large as 62-, 15-, and 9.7-fold at days 14, 28, and 45 post-immunization, respectively. Nevertheless, all immunized hamsters were protected from challenges with all SARS-CoV-2 variants, including those exhibiting the lowest neutralizing antibody titers. The results provide insights into the COVID-19 vaccine booster strategies.

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SARS-CoV-2 protein subunit vaccination elicits potent neutralizing antibody responses

10.1101/2020.07.31.228486 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Marco Mandolesi ◽

Daniel J Sheward ◽

Leo Hanke ◽

Junjie Ma ◽

Pradeepa Pushparaj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Rhesus Macaques ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Host Cells ◽

High Dose ◽

Protein Subunit ◽

High Dose Regimen ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Protein Immunization

The outbreak and spread of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2), the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a current global health emergency and a prophylactic vaccine is needed urgently. The spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 mediates entry into host cells, and thus is a target for neutralizing antibodies and vaccine design. Here we show that adjuvanted protein immunization with SARS-CoV-2 spike trimers, stabilized in prefusion conformation, results in potent antibody responses in mice and rhesus macaques with neutralizing antibody titers orders of magnitude greater than those typically measured in serum from SARS-CoV-2 seropositive humans. Neutralizing antibody responses were observed after a single dose, with exceptionally high titers achieved after boosting. Furthermore, neutralizing antibody titers elicited by a dose-sparing regimen in mice were similar to those obtained from a high dose regimen. Taken together, these data strongly support the development of adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 prefusion-stabilized spike protein subunit vaccines.

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Receptor-Binding Domain Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Elicited Robust Antibody Responses Cross-Reacting with Wild-Type and Mutant Viruses in Mice

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9121383 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1383

Author(s):

Juan Shi ◽

Xiaoxiao Jin ◽

Yan Ding ◽

Xiaotao Liu ◽

Anran Shen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Receptor Binding ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Polyclonal Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Wild Type ◽

Neutralization Capacity ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

High Level

Multiple variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) have spread around the world, but the neutralizing effects of antibodies induced by the existing vaccines have declined, which highlights the importance of developing vaccines against mutant virus strains. In this study, nine receptor-binding domain (RBD) proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 variants (B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1 lineages) were constructed and fused with the Fc fragment of human IgG (RBD-Fc). These RBD-Fc proteins contained single or multiple amino acid substitutions at prevalent mutation points of spike protein, which enabled them to bind strongly to the polyclonal antibodies specific for wild-type RBD and to the recombinant human ACE2 protein. In the BALB/c, mice were immunized with the wild-type RBD-Fc protein first and boosted twice with the indicated mutant RBD-Fc proteins later. All mutant RBD-Fc proteins elicited high-level IgG antibodies and cross-neutralizing antibodies. The RBD-Fc proteins with multiple substitutions tended to induce higher antibody titers and neutralizing-antibody titers than the single-mutant RBD-Fc proteins. Meanwhile, both wild-type RBD-Fc protein and mutant RBD-Fc proteins induced significantly decreased neutralization capacity to the pseudovirus of B.1.351 and P.1 lineages than to the wild-type one. These data will facilitate the design and development of RBD-based subunit vaccines against SARS-COV-2 and its variants.

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