COVID-19: Significantly higher antibody levels following vaccination in those who have recovered
Millions of people have already been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and survived the COVID-19 disease caused by the pathogen. In viral infections, the body produces antibodies that can fight the pathogen. Scientific studies have shown that the Immune protection of those who have recovered lasts longer than expected. But an additional booster is obviously also advisable for this group of people.
It is repeatedly pointed out how important booster vaccinations once morest COVID-19 are. Such a booster for immune protection is apparently also recommended for those who have recovered. This is shown by a Dortmund research initiative.
Immune response following infection and vaccination
When our immune system comes into contact with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, it defends itself and forms antibodies. A similar immune response is triggered by the COVID-19 vaccines. So far, however, only little data is available on the strength and durability of the immune protection.
According to a recent Message A team led by Prof. Carsten Watzl from the Leibniz Institute for Labor Research at the TU Dortmund (IfADo) in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology (MPI) and the Dortmund Clinic has now 300 days following a SARS-CoV 2 infection with the original variant can detect high levels of neutralizing antibodies in test persons.
And what’s more: After full vaccination, those who had recovered showed antibody levels that were regarding 5 times higher than those who had been vaccinated without a previous infection. You would be much better protected once morest a severe course of the disease in the event of a new infection with other coronavirus variants.
The study results were recently published in the scientific journalEuropean Journal of Immunology” released.
Reliable and meaningful detection system
Human immune protection is guaranteed by two systems working hand in hand. When infected with a virus, our immune system responds by producing antibodies that can prevent the pathogen from infecting other cells.
At the same time, so-called T-killer cells can recognize the foreign virus components and thus kill cells that are already infected. The antibodies constantly improve during the immune response and are ultimately tailor-made for the pathogen. The level of neutralizing antibodies indicates how well the body can fight off a new infection.
As IfADo Director Carsten Watzl explains, together with colleagues from the Max Planck Institute and the Dortmund Clinic, they have developed a reliable test system for detecting neutralizing antibodies.
In order to be able to fish antibodies out of the blood in a targeted manner, an appropriate bait is required. A main target of the immune system is the spike protein, which the corona viruses use to bind to human cells and then infect them.
“We were able to produce part of this protein, more precisely the area that docks onto the cell, in high purity in the test tube,” says Jan-Erik Hoffmann, head of protein production at the MPI Dortmund.
With this exact copy and blood samples from the Dortmund Clinic, the scientists at the IfADo were able to develop a reliable and meaningful detection system for the coronavirus antibodies.
For a study with around 140 volunteers from a Dortmund health facility with several documented cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections at the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020), the researchers were then in close contact with the Dortmund Health Department and the Dortmund Clinic.
Five times more neutralizing antibodies
Effective amounts of neutralizing antibodies once morest the spike protein might be detected in almost all of the participants who tested positive. And even following 300 days, the antibody levels had hardly fallen in three out of four subjects.
However, the infections still took place with the original variant of the coronavirus and the neutralizing antibodies once morest the original spike protein were measured.
However, the virus has now developed in such a way that immunity to the original virus currently offers significantly less protection. The researchers therefore also examined the effect of vaccination with the vaccines from AstraZeneca and BioNTech on the immune system.
They found that recovered subjects following full vaccination developed up to five times more neutralizing antibodies than vaccinated subjects without prior infection. They would then also be better protected once morest current virus variants.
How long immunity lasts
“Meanwhile there are some studies on the immune response following a corona infection. Our study differs from this in that we had blood samples available before and from the first weeks of the pandemic. So we knew exactly whether a subject was already infected or not.”says Watzl.
“The rules of the game have of course changed in the meantime, as there are new variants such as Omikron. However, it is important to know how long immunity actually lasts. Because this can also protect once morest a serious course of the disease in the event of a new infection with other coronavirus variants.explains the researcher.
“We are currently also using our jointly developed test systems to investigate the immune response to the COVID-19 vaccinations and their protection once morest different coronavirus variants.” (ad)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Swell:
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology: Booster for immune protection following corona infection, (accessed: March 21, 2022), Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology
- Urlaub D, Wolfsdorff N, Hoffmann JE, Dorok S, Hoffmann M, Anft M, Pieris N, Günther P, Schaaf B, Cassens U, Bröde P, Claus M, Picard LK, Wingert S, Backes S, Durak D, Babel N, Pöhlmann S, Renken F, Raunser S, Watzl C: Neutralizing antibody responses 300 days following SARS-CoV-2 infection and induction of high antibody titers following vaccination; in: European Journal of Immunology, (veröffentlicht: 05.03.2022), European Journal of Immunology
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
