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The extent to which immune responses to natural infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and immunization with vaccines protect against variants of concern (VOC) is of increasing importance. Accordingly, here we analyse antibodies and T cells of a recently vaccinated, UK cohort, alongside those recovering from natural infection in early 2020. We show that neutralization of the VOC compared to a reference isolate of the original circulating lineage, B, is reduced: more profoundly against B.1.351 than for B.1.1.7, and in responses to infection or a single dose of vaccine than to a second dose of vaccine. Importantly, high magnitude T cell responses are generated after two vaccine doses, with the majority of the T cell response directed against epitopes that are conserved between the prototype isolate B and the VOC. Vaccination is required to generate high potency immune responses to protect against these and other emergent variants.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/s41467-021-25167-5

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nature communications

Publication Date

17/08/2021

Volume

12

Addresses

Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Keywords

Medawar Laboratory Team, OPTIC (Oxford Protective T cell Immunology for COVID-19) Clinical Group, PITCH (Protective Immunity T cells in Health Care Worker) Study Group, C-MORE/PHOSP-C Group, T-Lymphocytes, Animals, Humans, Carrier Proteins, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antibodies, Viral, Epitopes, Immunity, Antibodies, Neutralizing, COVID-19, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Vaccines