Antigenic Imprinting and Humoral Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Hamsters
Author Information
Author(s): Degryse Joran, Maas Elke, Lassaunière Ria, Geerts Katrien, Kumpanenko Yana, Weynand Birgit, Maes Piet, Neyts Johan, Thibaut Hendrik Jan, Alpizar Yeranddy A., Dallmeier Kai
Primary Institution: KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation
Hypothesis
Does antigenic imprinting affect the humoral immune response to new variants of SARS-CoV-2 in vaccinated hamsters?
Conclusion
Antigenic imprinting significantly shapes the humoral immune response to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, limiting the effectiveness of vaccines against new strains.
Supporting Evidence
- Vaccination with Comirnaty® XBB.1.5 induced high titers of neutralizing antibodies against its autologous antigen.
- Neutralizing antibody responses against antigenically distant variants waned rapidly.
- Immunization led to a skewed memory response favoring the original vaccine strain over new variants.
Takeaway
When hamsters were vaccinated and then exposed to new COVID-19 variants, their immune response was mostly focused on the original vaccine strain, making it harder to fight off the new variants.
Methodology
Syrian hamsters were vaccinated with the Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 mRNA vaccine and then infected with closely and distantly related Omicron variants to assess humoral responses.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the use of a different vaccine platform as a control and the limited sample size affecting statistical significance.
Limitations
The study is limited to a single monovalent vaccination and a single exposure in hamsters, which may not reflect human responses to multiple vaccinations and variant exposures.
Participant Demographics
Male Syrian golden hamsters aged 7-9 weeks were used in the experiments.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.0312
Confidence Interval
95% CI 32.7–2003
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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