Decreased memory B cell frequencies in COVID-19 delta variant vaccine breakthrough infection



Tay, Matthew Zirui, Rouers, Angeline, Fong, Siew-Wai, Goh, Yun Shan, Chan, Yi-Hao, Chang, Zi Wei, Xu, Weili, Tan, Chee Wah, Chia, Wan Ni, Torres-Ruesta, Anthony
et al (show 20 more authors) (2022) Decreased memory B cell frequencies in COVID-19 delta variant vaccine breakthrough infection. EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE, 14 (3). e15227-.

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Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant is capable of infecting vaccinated persons. An open question remains as to whether deficiencies in specific vaccine-elicited immune responses result in susceptibility to vaccine breakthrough infection. We investigated 55 vaccine breakthrough infection cases (mostly Delta) in Singapore, comparing them against 86 vaccinated close contacts who did not contract infection. Vaccine breakthrough cases showed lower memory B cell frequencies against SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD). Compared to plasma antibodies, antibodies secreted by memory B cells retained a higher fraction of neutralizing properties against the Delta variant. Inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β and TNF were lower in vaccine breakthrough infections than primary infection of similar disease severity, underscoring the usefulness of vaccination in preventing inflammation. This report highlights the importance of memory B cells against vaccine breakthrough and suggests that lower memory B cell levels may be a correlate of risk for Delta vaccine breakthrough infection.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: correlate of risk, COVID-19, delta, memory B cells, vaccine breakthrough
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 19 May 2022 08:13
Last Modified: 25 Dec 2023 12:19
DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202115227
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202115227
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3155106