Profile of Humoral Immunity and B Cell Pool in Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Prototype Strain and AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) Vaccination

Background/Objectives: Understanding the behavior of B cells during infection and vaccination is important for determining protective humoral immunity. We evaluated the profile of humoral immunity and B cell pool in individuals who were acutely infected with SARS-CoV-2, recovered from COVID-19, or r...

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Main Authors: Débora Familiar-Macedo, Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo, Elba Regina Sampaio de Lemos, Paulo Vieira Damasco, Luzia Maria de-Oliveira-Pinto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Vaccines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/101
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author Débora Familiar-Macedo
Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo
Elba Regina Sampaio de Lemos
Paulo Vieira Damasco
Luzia Maria de-Oliveira-Pinto
author_facet Débora Familiar-Macedo
Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo
Elba Regina Sampaio de Lemos
Paulo Vieira Damasco
Luzia Maria de-Oliveira-Pinto
author_sort Débora Familiar-Macedo
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: Understanding the behavior of B cells during infection and vaccination is important for determining protective humoral immunity. We evaluated the profile of humoral immunity and B cell pool in individuals who were acutely infected with SARS-CoV-2, recovered from COVID-19, or received two doses of the AZD1222 vaccine. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from these individuals were subjected to in vitro stimulation to promote the differentiation of B cells into antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), and the ELISpot evaluated the abundance of pan and SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1-reactive IgG+ ASC. Stimulated PBMCs were characterized using flow cytometry. Culture supernatants were assessed for soluble B-cell-activating factors. The IgA and IgG for the S1 were evaluated through ELISA. Results: The recovered individuals displayed a robust S1 ASC compared to acute and vaccinated individuals. Although the frequency of total B cells or B cell subsets did not vary among the groups, plasmablast cells were increased in naïve and double-negative B cells in the acute, recovered, and vaccinated individuals. Similar IgA and IgG production appeared to be present in the acute and recovered individuals. During vaccination, more IgG is produced than IgA. In acute patients, BAFF levels were positively correlated with total B cells and IgG+ plasmablast cells but negatively correlated with IgA+ plasmablast cells. Conclusions: Vaccination and natural infection with COVID-19 induce a differential profile and functionality of B cells. We suggest that new vaccines against COVID-19 incorporate molecular adjuvants that regulate B lymphocyte functionality and consider the beneficial aspects of the IgA response in addition to IgG.
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spelling doaj-art-d69e98b312cd48d689e1fa135665d30d2025-08-20T03:12:01ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-01-0113210110.3390/vaccines13020101Profile of Humoral Immunity and B Cell Pool in Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Prototype Strain and AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) VaccinationDébora Familiar-Macedo0Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo1Elba Regina Sampaio de Lemos2Paulo Vieira Damasco3Luzia Maria de-Oliveira-Pinto4Laboratório das Interações Vírus Hospedeiros, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, BrazilLaboratório das Interações Vírus Hospedeiros, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, BrazilLaboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, BrazilRede Casa Hospital Rio Laranjeira e Rio Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro 22240-000, BrazilLaboratório das Interações Vírus Hospedeiros, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, BrazilBackground/Objectives: Understanding the behavior of B cells during infection and vaccination is important for determining protective humoral immunity. We evaluated the profile of humoral immunity and B cell pool in individuals who were acutely infected with SARS-CoV-2, recovered from COVID-19, or received two doses of the AZD1222 vaccine. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from these individuals were subjected to in vitro stimulation to promote the differentiation of B cells into antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), and the ELISpot evaluated the abundance of pan and SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1-reactive IgG+ ASC. Stimulated PBMCs were characterized using flow cytometry. Culture supernatants were assessed for soluble B-cell-activating factors. The IgA and IgG for the S1 were evaluated through ELISA. Results: The recovered individuals displayed a robust S1 ASC compared to acute and vaccinated individuals. Although the frequency of total B cells or B cell subsets did not vary among the groups, plasmablast cells were increased in naïve and double-negative B cells in the acute, recovered, and vaccinated individuals. Similar IgA and IgG production appeared to be present in the acute and recovered individuals. During vaccination, more IgG is produced than IgA. In acute patients, BAFF levels were positively correlated with total B cells and IgG+ plasmablast cells but negatively correlated with IgA+ plasmablast cells. Conclusions: Vaccination and natural infection with COVID-19 induce a differential profile and functionality of B cells. We suggest that new vaccines against COVID-19 incorporate molecular adjuvants that regulate B lymphocyte functionality and consider the beneficial aspects of the IgA response in addition to IgG.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/101COVID-19AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) vaccinehumoral responseB cell subsets
spellingShingle Débora Familiar-Macedo
Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo
Elba Regina Sampaio de Lemos
Paulo Vieira Damasco
Luzia Maria de-Oliveira-Pinto
Profile of Humoral Immunity and B Cell Pool in Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Prototype Strain and AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) Vaccination
Vaccines
COVID-19
AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) vaccine
humoral response
B cell subsets
title Profile of Humoral Immunity and B Cell Pool in Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Prototype Strain and AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) Vaccination
title_full Profile of Humoral Immunity and B Cell Pool in Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Prototype Strain and AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) Vaccination
title_fullStr Profile of Humoral Immunity and B Cell Pool in Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Prototype Strain and AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) Vaccination
title_full_unstemmed Profile of Humoral Immunity and B Cell Pool in Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Prototype Strain and AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) Vaccination
title_short Profile of Humoral Immunity and B Cell Pool in Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Prototype Strain and AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) Vaccination
title_sort profile of humoral immunity and b cell pool in infection with the sars cov 2 prototype strain and azd1222 chadox ncov 19 vaccination
topic COVID-19
AZD1222 (ChAdOx nCoV-19) vaccine
humoral response
B cell subsets
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/101
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