Boosted production of antibodies that neutralized different SARS-CoV-2 variants in a COVID-19 convalescent following messenger RNA vaccination - a case study

Erlend Ravlo; Aleksandr Ianevski; Eirin Starheim; Wei Wang; Ping Ji; Hilde Lysvand; Teemu Smura; Gaily Kivi; Maia-Liisa Voolaid; Kati Plaan; Mart Ustav; Mart Ustav, Jr.; Eva Zusinaite; Tanel Tenson; Reet Kurg; Valentyn Oksenych; Kirsti Walstad; Svein Arne Nordbø; Mari Kaarbø; Karin Ernits; Magnar Bjørås; Denis E. Kainov; Mona Høysæter Fenstad

International Journal of Infectious Diseases (Dec 2023)

Boosted production of antibodies that neutralized different SARS-CoV-2 variants in a COVID-19 convalescent following messenger RNA vaccination - a case study

Erlend Ravlo,
Aleksandr Ianevski,
Eirin Starheim,
Wei Wang,
Ping Ji,
Hilde Lysvand,
Teemu Smura,
Gaily Kivi,
Maia-Liisa Voolaid,
Kati Plaan,
Mart Ustav,
Mart Ustav, Jr.,
Eva Zusinaite,
Tanel Tenson,
Reet Kurg,
Valentyn Oksenych,
Kirsti Walstad,
Svein Arne Nordbø,
Mari Kaarbø,
Karin Ernits,
Magnar Bjørås,
Denis E. Kainov,
Mona Høysæter Fenstad

Affiliations

Erlend Ravlo: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Aleksandr Ianevski: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Eirin Starheim: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Wei Wang: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Ping Ji: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Hilde Lysvand: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Teemu Smura: Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; HUS Diagnostic Center, Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Gaily Kivi: Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, Tartu, Estonia
Maia-Liisa Voolaid: Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, Tartu, Estonia
Kati Plaan: Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, Tartu, Estonia
Mart Ustav: Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, Tartu, Estonia
Mart Ustav, Jr.: Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, Tartu, Estonia
Eva Zusinaite: Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
Tanel Tenson: Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
Reet Kurg: Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
Valentyn Oksenych: Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Kirsti Walstad: Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
Svein Arne Nordbø: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
Mari Kaarbø: Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Karin Ernits: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden
Magnar Bjørås: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Embryology and Healthy Development, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
Denis E. Kainov: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Corresponding author: Tel.: +(47) 73598474.
Mona Høysæter Fenstad: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 137
pp. 75 – 78

Abstract

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Vaccinated convalescents do not develop severe COVID-19 after infection with new SARS-CoV-2 variants. We questioned how messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination of convalescents provides protection from emerging virus variants. From the cohort of 71 convalescent plasma donors, we identified a patient who developed immune response to infection with SARS-CoV-2 variant of 20A clade and who subsequently received mRNA vaccine encoding spike (S) protein of strain of 19A clade. We showed that vaccination increased the production of immune cells and anti-S antibodies in the serum. Serum antibodies neutralized not only 19A and 20A, but also 20B, 20H, 21J, and 21K virus variants. One of the serum antibodies (100F8) completely neutralized 20A, 21J, and partially 21K strains. 100F8 was structurally similar to published Ab188 antibody, which recognized non-conserved epitope on the S protein. We proposed that 100F8 and other serum antibodies of the patient which recognized non- and conserved epitopes of the S protein, could have additive or synergistic effects to neutralize various virus variants. Thus, mRNA vaccination could be beneficial for convalescents because it boosts production of neutralizing antibodies with broad-spectrum activity.

Published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1201-9712 (Print); 1878-3511 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-infectious-diseases/

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