Emergence of antibodies against COVID-19 variants after infection, vaccination

Editor's Note

This study by researchers from Emory University in Atlanta and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston finds the presence of neutralizing activity of infection- and vaccine-elicited antibodies against COVID-19 variants.

The variants included in the analysis were:

• A.1 (closely resembles Wuhan strain)
• B.1 (predominant strain found in US)
• B.1.1.7 (originally found in the UK)
• N501Y (generated from an infectious clone and resembles multiple emerging variants).

The variants were tested against serum samples from 20 acutely infected COVID-19 patients, 20 patients who had recovered from COVID-19, and 14 vaccinated individuals.

The researchers found antibody activity against all four variants in individuals who had COVID-19 and those who were vaccinated against COVID-19.

The results suggest that both infection- and vaccine induced immunity may be retained against the B.1.1.7 variant, which has been a concern because of its increased transmissibility.

As additional new variants emerge, neutralizing-antibody responses should be monitored after infection and vaccination, the researchers say.