Antibody Response of Combination of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac Platforms of COVID-19 Vaccines against Omicron Variant

Abstract

By vaccinating SARS-CoV-2 naïve individuals who have already received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, we aimed to investigate whether a heterologous prime-boost strategy, using vaccines of different platforms as the booster dose, can enhance the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 virus variants. Participants were assigned into four groups, each receiving different combination of vaccinations: two doses of BNT162b2 followed by one dose of BNT162b2 booster (B-B-B); Combination of BNT162b2 (first dose) and CoronaVac (second dose) followed by one dose of BNT162b2 booster (B-C-B); two doses of CoronaVac followed by one dose of CoronaVac booster (C-C-C); two doses of CoronaVac followed by one dose of BNT162b2 booster (C-C-B). The neutralizing antibody in sera against the virus was determined with live virus microneutralization assay (vMN). The B-B-B group and C-C-B group demonstrated significantly higher immunogenicity against SARS-CoV-2 Wild type (WT), Beta variant (BV) and Delta variant (DV). In addition, the B-B-B group and C-C-B group showed reduced but existing protection against Omicron variant (OV). Moreover, A persistent rise in vMN titre against OV was observed 3 days after booster dose. Regarding safety, a heterologous prime-boost vaccine strategy is well tolerated. In this study, it was demonstrated that using vaccines of different platforms as booster dose can enhance protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants, offering potent neutralizing activity against wild-type virus (WT), Beta variant (BV), Delta variant (DV) and some protection against the Omicron variant (OV). In addition, a booster mRNA vaccine results in a more potent immune response than inactivated vaccine regardless of which platform was used for prime doses.

VSV-Based Vaccines Reduce Virus Shedding and Viral Load in Hamsters Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern

“…However, with the emergence of the newest VOC, Omicron, the efficacy of the booster vaccination doses have again been challenged. While the cross-reactive cellular response is maintained in the majority of individuals, the functionality of the cross-reactive antibody response declines dramatically [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. We have previously demonstrated vaccine efficacy similar to the results presented here, inhibiting infection of the lungs and no effect on oral viral shedding [ 33 ].…”

Potential Antiviral Activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KAU007 against Influenza Virus H1N1

“…Therefore, to provide frontline protection against influenza viruses, it is necessary to find alternative means of prevention regardless of strain specificity. Besides, there is a growing demand for unconventional measures to protect against the disease [ 5 , 8 , 9 ], and new variants of these viruses have become a global healthcare threat [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Serum neutralisation of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron sublineage BA.2

“…We measured the serum neutralising antibody (NAb) activity against BA.1 and BA.2 with a live virus NAb assay, 1 , 2 and report the results here. We tested serum specimens collected from individuals who had received three doses of COVID-19 vaccine (three-dose vaccinated; n=21; appendix p 4 ), 4 patients who had COVID-19 in 2020 who received one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine after recovery (pre-variant of concern [VOC] convalescent, one-dose vaccinated; n=15), 5 patients who had COVID-19 in 2020 but had not been vaccinated (pre-VOC convalescent, non-vaccinated; n=9), 5 and patients recently infected by the omicron sublineage BA.2 (omicron BA.2 convalescent; n=10; appendix p 4 ). Overall (n=55), the geometric mean NAb titre (GMT) against BA.2 was 1·68 (CI 1·63–1·73) times higher than against BA.1 (73·2 against BA.2 vs 43·7 against BA.1; p<0·0001; appendix p 2 ).…”