Long-lasting antibody B-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 three years after the onset of the pandemic
Cell Reports, 2025
Molinos-Albert L., Rubio R., Martín-Pérez C., Pradenas E., Torres C., Jiménez A., Canyelles M., Vidal M., Barrios D., Marfil S., Aparicio E., Ramírez-Morros A., Trinité B., Vidal-Alaball J., Santamaria P., Serra P., Izquierdo L., Aguilar R., Ruiz-Comellas A., Blanco J., Dobaño C., Moncunill G.
| Disease area | Application area | Sample type | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
Infectious Diseases | Pathophysiology | Plasma |  Olink Target 96 |
Abstract
Immune memory is essential for the effectiveness of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination. In the current context of the pandemic, with a diminished vaccine efficacy against emerging variants, it remains crucial to perform long-term studies to evaluate the durability and quality of immune responses. Here, we examined the antibody and memory B-cell responses in a cohort of 113 healthcare workers with distinct exposure histories over a 3-year period. Previously infected and naive participants developed comparable humoral responses by 17 months after receiving a full three-dose mRNA vaccination. In addition, both maintained a substantial SARS-CoV-2-reactive memory B-cell pool, associated with a lower incidence of breakthrough infections in naive participants. Of note, previously infected participants developed an expanded SARS-CoV-2-reactive CD27−CD21− atypical B-cell population that remained stable throughout the follow-up period. Thus, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection differentially imprints the memory B-cell compartment without compromising the development of long-lasting humoral responses.