Neutralizing Antibody-Mediated Protection from Prior Delta Variant Infection Against Omicron BA.5 Sub-Lineage Reinfection One Year Later: A Prospective Cohort Study
Shihan Zhang,
Yin Wang,
Guo Xu,
Chen Dong,
Hua Tian,
Chuchu Li,
Xiaoxiao Kong,
Jiefu Peng,
Haodi Huang,
Aidibai Simayi,
Fengcai Zhu,
Jianli Hu,
Ke Xu,
Changjun Bao,
Hui Jin,
Liguo Zhu
Affiliations
Shihan Zhang
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
Yin Wang
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Yangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yangzhou 225007, China
Guo Xu
Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
Chen Dong
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Hua Tian
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Chuchu Li
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Xiaoxiao Kong
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Jiefu Peng
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Haodi Huang
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Aidibai Simayi
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
Fengcai Zhu
National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Enteric Pathogenic Microbiology, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Jianli Hu
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Ke Xu
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Changjun Bao
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Hui Jin
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
Liguo Zhu
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China
Background: Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection provides some level of protection against reinfection. However, few studies have evaluated the neutralizing antibody (NAb) response after Delta variant infection and its ability to prevent reinfection with Omicron BA.5 one year later. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 431 patients who recovered from Delta variant infection. We measured their serum NAb titers against both Delta and Omicron BA.5 using microneutralization tests. Results: Over a 17-month follow-up, 17.9% of the participants were reinfected with Omicron BA.5. Younger adults (18–65 years) and individuals who did not receive booster immunization had significantly higher reinfection rates than older adults (>65 years) and those who received boosters (p p > 0.05). Cross-neutralization assays showed a 7.1-fold reduction in NAb efficacy against Omicron BA.5. Conclusions: Delta-variant infection-induced NAbs did not strongly predict protection against Omicron BA.5 reinfection. However, booster immunization effectively reduced the reinfection rate approximately one year after the initial Delta infection.
