Frontiers in Immunology (Mar 2024)

Diminished neutralizing activity against the XBB1.5 strain in 55.9% of individuals post 6 months COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccination: insights from a pseudovirus assay on 1,353 participants in the Fukushima vaccination community survey, Japan

  • Tianchen Zhao,
  • Tianchen Zhao,
  • Yuta Tani,
  • Yuta Tani,
  • Chieko Makino-Okamura,
  • Chieko Makino-Okamura,
  • Morihito Takita,
  • Morihito Takita,
  • Chika Yamamoto,
  • Chika Yamamoto,
  • Eiki Kawahara,
  • Eiki Kawahara,
  • Eiki Kawahara,
  • Toshiki Abe,
  • Sota Sugiura,
  • Hiroki Yoshimura,
  • Hiroki Yoshimura,
  • Taiga Uchiyama,
  • Isato Yamazaki,
  • Isato Yamazaki,
  • Isato Yamazaki,
  • Harumichi Ishigame,
  • Harumichi Ishigame,
  • Takaharu Ueno,
  • Kazu Okuma,
  • Masatoshi Wakui,
  • Hidehiro Fukuyama,
  • Hidehiro Fukuyama,
  • Hidehiro Fukuyama,
  • Hidehiro Fukuyama,
  • Masaharu Tsubokura,
  • Masaharu Tsubokura

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1337520
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

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This study investigates the neutralizing activity against the XBB1.5 variant and the ancestral strain in a population post-bivalent vaccination using a pseudo virus assay validated with authentic virus assay. While bivalent booster vaccination and past infections enhanced neutralization against the XBB 1.5 strain, individuals with comorbidities showed reduced responses. The study suggests the need for continuous vaccine updates to address emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and highlights the importance of monitoring real-world immune responses.

Keywords