Science · 2021 · 937 citations · 63 references
Veterinary MedicineImmunologyInfectious DiseasesImmunizationVaccine ImmunologyVaccinologyAdaptive Immune ResponsesImmune Response To VaccinationImmunological MemoryVaccinationVaccine EffectivenessVaccine-preventable DiseasesCellular Immune MemoryCellular MemoryEmergence Of Viral VariantsHumoral Immune MemoryMessenger Rna (Mrna) VaccinesMessenger Rna VaccinesSars-cov-2 InfectionVaccine-induced Immune Memory
Immune memory after vaccination Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has proven highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19. However, the evolution of viral variants, and waning antibody levels over time, raise questions regarding the longevity of vaccine-induced immune protection. Goel et al . examined B and T lymphocyte responses in individuals who received SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA vaccines. They performed a 6-month longitudinal study of individuals who never had SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with people who had recovered from SARS-CoV-2. Humoral and cellular immune memory was observed in vaccinated individuals, as were functional immune responses against the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Delta (B.1.617.2) viral variants. Analysis of T cell activity suggested that robust cellular immune memory may prevent hospitalization by limiting the development of severe disease. —PNK
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