Neutralizing Activity against BQ.1.1, BN.1, and XBB.1 in Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients: Comparison by the Types of Prior Infection and Vaccine Formulations
Hak-Jun Hyun,
Min-Joo Choi,
Eliel Nham,
Hye Seong,
Jin-Gu Yoon,
Ji-Yun Noh,
Hee-Jin Cheong,
Woo-Joo Kim,
Sun-Kyung Yoon,
Se-Jin Park,
Won-Seok Gwak,
June-Woo Lee,
Byoung-Guk Kim,
Joon-Young Song
Affiliations
Hak-Jun Hyun
Department of Infectious Diseases, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
Min-Joo Choi
Department of Internal Medicine, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea
Eliel Nham
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Hye Seong
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Jin-Gu Yoon
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Ji-Yun Noh
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Hee-Jin Cheong
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Woo-Joo Kim
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Sun-Kyung Yoon
Division of Vaccine Clinical Research, Center for Vaccine Research National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
Se-Jin Park
Division of Vaccine Clinical Research, Center for Vaccine Research National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
Won-Seok Gwak
Division of Vaccine Clinical Research, Center for Vaccine Research National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
June-Woo Lee
Division of Vaccine Clinical Research, Center for Vaccine Research National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
Byoung-Guk Kim
Division of Vaccine Clinical Research, Center for Vaccine Research National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
Joon-Young Song
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Bivalent COVID-19 vaccines that contain BA.1 or BA.4/BA.5 have been introduced worldwide in response to pandemic waves of Omicron subvariants. This prospective cohort study was aimed to compare neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) against Omicron subvariants (BA.1, BA.5, BQ.1.1, BN.1, and XBB.1) before and 3–4 weeks after bivalent booster by the types of SARS-CoV-2 variants in prior infections and bivalent vaccine formulations. A total of 21 participants were included. Prior BA.1/BA.2-infected, and BA.5-infected participants showed significantly higher geometric mean titers of Nab compared to SARS-CoV-2-non-infected participants after bivalent booster (BA.1, 8156 vs. 4861 vs. 1636; BA.5, 6515 vs. 4861 vs. 915; BQ.1.1, 697 vs. 628 vs. 115; BN.1, 1402 vs. 1289 vs. 490; XBB.1, 434 vs. 355 vs. 144). When compared by bivalent vaccine formulations, Nab titers against studied subvariants after bivalent booster did not differ between BA.1 and BA.4/BA.5 bivalent vaccine (BA.1, 4886 vs. 5285; BA.5, 3320 vs. 4118; BQ.1.1, 311 vs. 572; BN.1, 1028 vs. 1095; XBB.1, 262 vs. 362). Both BA.1 and BA.4/BA.5 bivalent vaccines are immunogenic and provide enhanced neutralizing activities against Omicron subvariants. However, even after the bivalent booster, neutralizing activities against the later Omicron strains (BQ.1.1, BN.1, and XBB.1) would be insufficient to provide protection.
