Longitudinal cellular and humoral immune responses following COVID-19 BNT162b2-mRNA-based booster vaccination of craft and manual workers in Qatar

BackgroundIn March 2020, the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 prompted global vaccination campaigns to mitigate COVID-19 disease severity and mortality. The 2-dose BNT162b2-mRNA vaccine effectively reduced infection and mortality rates, however, waning vaccine effectiveness necessitated the introduction o...

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Main Authors: Remy Thomas, Ahmed Zaqout, Bakhita Meqbel, Umar Jafar, Nishant N. Vaikath, Abdullah Aldushain, Adviti Naik, Hibah Shaath, Neyla S. Al-Akl, Abdi Adam, Houda Y. A. Moussa, Kyung C. Shin, Rowaida Z. Taha, Mohammed Abukhattab, Muna A. Almaslamani, Nehad M. Alajez, Abdelilah Arredouani, Yongsoo Park, Sara A. Abdulla, Omar M. A. El-Agnaf, Ali S. Omrani, Julie Decock
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1557426/full
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author Remy Thomas
Ahmed Zaqout
Bakhita Meqbel
Umar Jafar
Umar Jafar
Nishant N. Vaikath
Abdullah Aldushain
Adviti Naik
Hibah Shaath
Neyla S. Al-Akl
Abdi Adam
Houda Y. A. Moussa
Kyung C. Shin
Rowaida Z. Taha
Mohammed Abukhattab
Muna A. Almaslamani
Nehad M. Alajez
Nehad M. Alajez
Abdelilah Arredouani
Abdelilah Arredouani
Yongsoo Park
Yongsoo Park
Sara A. Abdulla
Sara A. Abdulla
Omar M. A. El-Agnaf
Omar M. A. El-Agnaf
Ali S. Omrani
Ali S. Omrani
Julie Decock
Julie Decock
author_facet Remy Thomas
Ahmed Zaqout
Bakhita Meqbel
Umar Jafar
Umar Jafar
Nishant N. Vaikath
Abdullah Aldushain
Adviti Naik
Hibah Shaath
Neyla S. Al-Akl
Abdi Adam
Houda Y. A. Moussa
Kyung C. Shin
Rowaida Z. Taha
Mohammed Abukhattab
Muna A. Almaslamani
Nehad M. Alajez
Nehad M. Alajez
Abdelilah Arredouani
Abdelilah Arredouani
Yongsoo Park
Yongsoo Park
Sara A. Abdulla
Sara A. Abdulla
Omar M. A. El-Agnaf
Omar M. A. El-Agnaf
Ali S. Omrani
Ali S. Omrani
Julie Decock
Julie Decock
author_sort Remy Thomas
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundIn March 2020, the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 prompted global vaccination campaigns to mitigate COVID-19 disease severity and mortality. The 2-dose BNT162b2-mRNA vaccine effectively reduced infection and mortality rates, however, waning vaccine effectiveness necessitated the introduction of a third vaccine dose or booster.AimTo assess the magnitude and longevity of booster-induced immunity, we conducted a longitudinal study of SARS-CoV-2 specific cellular and humoral immune responses among Qatar’s vulnerable craft and manual worker community. We also investigated the impact of prior naturally acquired immunity on booster vaccination efficacy.MethodsSeventy healthy participants were enrolled in the study, of whom half had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Blood samples were collected before and after booster vaccination to evaluate immune responses through SARS-CoV-2 specific ELISpots, IgG ELISA, neutralization assays, and flow cytometric immunophenotyping.ResultsT cell analysis revealed increased Th1 cytokine responses, marked by enhanced IFN-γ release, in recently infected participants, which was further enhanced by booster vaccination for up to 6-months. Furthermore, booster vaccination stimulated cytotoxic responses in infection-naïve participants, characterized by granzyme B production. Both natural SARS-CoV-2 infection and booster vaccination induced robust and durable SARS-CoV-2 specific humoral immune responses, with high neutralizing antibody levels. Prior natural infection was also linked to an increased number of class-switched B cells prior to booster vaccination.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the importance of booster vaccination in enhancing anti-viral immunity across both infection-naïve and previously infected individuals, enhancing distinct arms of the anti-viral immune response and prolonging naturally acquired immunity.
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spelling doaj-art-9ea998ea2d814aa39fabd9ec3619523a2025-08-20T01:49:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-03-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15574261557426Longitudinal cellular and humoral immune responses following COVID-19 BNT162b2-mRNA-based booster vaccination of craft and manual workers in QatarRemy Thomas0Ahmed Zaqout1Bakhita Meqbel2Umar Jafar3Umar Jafar4Nishant N. Vaikath5Abdullah Aldushain6Adviti Naik7Hibah Shaath8Neyla S. Al-Akl9Abdi Adam10Houda Y. A. Moussa11Kyung C. Shin12Rowaida Z. Taha13Mohammed Abukhattab14Muna A. Almaslamani15Nehad M. Alajez16Nehad M. Alajez17Abdelilah Arredouani18Abdelilah Arredouani19Yongsoo Park20Yongsoo Park21Sara A. Abdulla22Sara A. Abdulla23Omar M. A. El-Agnaf24Omar M. A. El-Agnaf25Ali S. Omrani26Ali S. Omrani27Julie Decock28Julie Decock29Translational Oncology Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCommunicable Disease Center, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, QatarTranslational Oncology Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarTranslational Oncology Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCollege of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarNeurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCommunicable Disease Center, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, QatarTranslational Oncology Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarTranslational Oncology Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarDiabetes Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarClinical Core, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarNeurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarNeurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarNeurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCommunicable Disease Center, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, QatarCommunicable Disease Center, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, QatarTranslational Oncology Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCollege of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCollege of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarDiabetes Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCollege of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarNeurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCollege of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarNeurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCollege of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarNeurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCommunicable Disease Center, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, QatarCollege of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, QatarTranslational Oncology Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarCollege of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, QatarBackgroundIn March 2020, the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 prompted global vaccination campaigns to mitigate COVID-19 disease severity and mortality. The 2-dose BNT162b2-mRNA vaccine effectively reduced infection and mortality rates, however, waning vaccine effectiveness necessitated the introduction of a third vaccine dose or booster.AimTo assess the magnitude and longevity of booster-induced immunity, we conducted a longitudinal study of SARS-CoV-2 specific cellular and humoral immune responses among Qatar’s vulnerable craft and manual worker community. We also investigated the impact of prior naturally acquired immunity on booster vaccination efficacy.MethodsSeventy healthy participants were enrolled in the study, of whom half had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Blood samples were collected before and after booster vaccination to evaluate immune responses through SARS-CoV-2 specific ELISpots, IgG ELISA, neutralization assays, and flow cytometric immunophenotyping.ResultsT cell analysis revealed increased Th1 cytokine responses, marked by enhanced IFN-γ release, in recently infected participants, which was further enhanced by booster vaccination for up to 6-months. Furthermore, booster vaccination stimulated cytotoxic responses in infection-naïve participants, characterized by granzyme B production. Both natural SARS-CoV-2 infection and booster vaccination induced robust and durable SARS-CoV-2 specific humoral immune responses, with high neutralizing antibody levels. Prior natural infection was also linked to an increased number of class-switched B cells prior to booster vaccination.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the importance of booster vaccination in enhancing anti-viral immunity across both infection-naïve and previously infected individuals, enhancing distinct arms of the anti-viral immune response and prolonging naturally acquired immunity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1557426/fullSARS-CoV-2BNT162b2boosterimmune responseimmunological memory
spellingShingle Remy Thomas
Ahmed Zaqout
Bakhita Meqbel
Umar Jafar
Umar Jafar
Nishant N. Vaikath
Abdullah Aldushain
Adviti Naik
Hibah Shaath
Neyla S. Al-Akl
Abdi Adam
Houda Y. A. Moussa
Kyung C. Shin
Rowaida Z. Taha
Mohammed Abukhattab
Muna A. Almaslamani
Nehad M. Alajez
Nehad M. Alajez
Abdelilah Arredouani
Abdelilah Arredouani
Yongsoo Park
Yongsoo Park
Sara A. Abdulla
Sara A. Abdulla
Omar M. A. El-Agnaf
Omar M. A. El-Agnaf
Ali S. Omrani
Ali S. Omrani
Julie Decock
Julie Decock
Longitudinal cellular and humoral immune responses following COVID-19 BNT162b2-mRNA-based booster vaccination of craft and manual workers in Qatar
Frontiers in Immunology
SARS-CoV-2
BNT162b2
booster
immune response
immunological memory
title Longitudinal cellular and humoral immune responses following COVID-19 BNT162b2-mRNA-based booster vaccination of craft and manual workers in Qatar
title_full Longitudinal cellular and humoral immune responses following COVID-19 BNT162b2-mRNA-based booster vaccination of craft and manual workers in Qatar
title_fullStr Longitudinal cellular and humoral immune responses following COVID-19 BNT162b2-mRNA-based booster vaccination of craft and manual workers in Qatar
title_full_unstemmed Longitudinal cellular and humoral immune responses following COVID-19 BNT162b2-mRNA-based booster vaccination of craft and manual workers in Qatar
title_short Longitudinal cellular and humoral immune responses following COVID-19 BNT162b2-mRNA-based booster vaccination of craft and manual workers in Qatar
title_sort longitudinal cellular and humoral immune responses following covid 19 bnt162b2 mrna based booster vaccination of craft and manual workers in qatar
topic SARS-CoV-2
BNT162b2
booster
immune response
immunological memory
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1557426/full
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