Heterogeneity of SARS-CoV-2 immune responses after the nationwide Omicron wave in China

Jing Wu; Mingzheng Jiang; Jiwei Li; Xiaoyi Hu; Qiuyue Long; Shixu Song; Hongli Ye; Yukun He; Xinqian Ma; Wenyi Yu; Xi Chen; Lili Zhao; Fangfang Wu; Xiaoyong Chen; Jianshi Zheng; Minghui Wang; Binghan Zheng; Shuoqi Yang; Liang Bu; Qin Chen; Ke Li; Yali Zheng; Zhancheng Gao

doi:10.1128/spectrum.01117-24

Microbiology Spectrum (Nov 2024)

Heterogeneity of SARS-CoV-2 immune responses after the nationwide Omicron wave in China

Jing Wu,
Mingzheng Jiang,
Jiwei Li,
Xiaoyi Hu,
Qiuyue Long,
Shixu Song,
Hongli Ye,
Yukun He,
Xinqian Ma,
Wenyi Yu,
Xi Chen,
Lili Zhao,
Fangfang Wu,
Xiaoyong Chen,
Jianshi Zheng,
Minghui Wang,
Binghan Zheng,
Shuoqi Yang,
Liang Bu,
Qin Chen,
Ke Li,
Yali Zheng,
Zhancheng Gao

Affiliations

Jing Wu: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Mingzheng Jiang: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Jiwei Li: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Xiaoyi Hu: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
Qiuyue Long: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Shixu Song: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Hongli Ye: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Yukun He: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
Xinqian Ma: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
Wenyi Yu: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
Xi Chen: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
Lili Zhao: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
Fangfang Wu: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Xiaoyong Chen: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Jianshi Zheng: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Minghui Wang: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Binghan Zheng: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Shuoqi Yang: Institute of Chest and Lung Diseases, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Liang Bu: Institute of Chest and Lung Diseases, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Qin Chen: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Ke Li: Department of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Yali Zheng: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
Zhancheng Gao: Department of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01117-24
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 11

Abstract

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ABSTRACT It remains unclear how previous infections and vaccinations influenced and shaped heterogeneous immune responses against Omicron and its variants in diverse populations in China. After the national wave of Omicron in early 2023, we evaluated serum levels of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against Omicron (B.1.1.529) and its variants (BA.5, BF.7, and CH1.1) in 33 COVID-19 convalescents and 40 uninfected vaccinees, using vesicular stomatitis virus-based pseudovirus neutralizing assay. In addition, we followed 34 Delta convalescent patients to compare their immune responses against Omicron before (late 2021) and after the Omicron wave (early 2023). NAbs at the acute phase of the disease were investigated in 50 Omicron inpatients, including 24 vaccinated and 26 unvaccinated patients. Among them, nasal mucosal IgA levels were measured in 42 subjects. Compared to vaccination, breakthrough infections significantly increased the breadth and magnitude of serum nAbs and mucosal IgA levels against Omicron variants. Exposure to Omicron but not Delta elicited stronger pan-Omicron responses. In Omicron inpatients, nAbs continued to rise as vaccination doses increased. However, in both vaccinees and convalescents, a fourth dose vaccination did not elicit higher nAbs against Omicron. Furthermore, nAbs against Omicron variants lasted longer than nAbs against WT SARS-CoV-2. Breakthrough infections of Omicron variants elicited specific immune responses against Omicron compared to vaccination and Delta infection. Although repeated vaccination revealed limited impacts on serum nAbs, populations at high risk of hospitalization may still benefit from continued vaccination.IMPORTANCEThe study described the specific humoral immunity against Omicron and its variants (BA.5, BF.7, and CH1.1) in diverse populations, including Delta-positive convalescent patients, Omicron-infected patients with a previous or current confirmed Delta infection, Omicron-positive patients, and healthy controls. In addition, we followed Delta convalescents for 1 year to evaluate the effect of a booster vaccine, breakthrough infection, and reinfection. Nasal mucosal IgA levels against SARS-CoV-2 were also examined. The findings of this study demonstrated the varied responses of individuals in different states following the outbreak of Omicron, highlighting the potential advantages of ongoing immunization for groups that are more vulnerable and have a greater likelihood of being hospitalized.

Published in Microbiology Spectrum

ISSN: 2165-0497 (Online)
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: https://journals.asm.org/journal/spectrum

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