BA.1 breakthrough infection elicits distinct antibody and memory B cell responses in vaccinated-only versus hybrid immunity individuals
Immune memory is influenced by the frequency and type of antigenic challenges. Here, we performed a cross-sectional comparison of immune parameters following a BA.1 breakthrough infection in individuals with prior hybrid immunity (conferred by infection and vaccination) versus those solely vaccinated in a cohort of health care workers in Lyon, France. The results showed higher levels of serum anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies and neutralizing antibodies against BA.1 post-infection in the vaccine-only group. Individuals in this group also showed a decrease in memory B cells against the ancestral strain but an increase in those specific and cross-reactive to BA.1, suggesting a more limited immune imprinting. Conversely, hybrid immunity prevents the decrease in antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) response, possibly by limiting IgG4 class-switching and enhanced anti-N responses post-infection. This highlights that BA.1 breakthrough infection induces different immune responses depending on prior history of vaccination and infection, which should be considered for further vaccination guidelines.
Authors
- Liliane Khoryati (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5817-8640)
- Cécile Barnel
- Martin Killian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7115-3248)
- Hélène Lozano
- Véronique Barateau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7265-4335)
- Natacha Mariano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8184-6830)
- Charlotte Mignon
- Annabelle Drouillard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7188-7655)
- Sophie Trouillet‐Assant (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6439-4705)
- Bruno Pozzetto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2603-8467)
- Camille Mena
- Martine Valette (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1062-6376)
- Fanny Joubert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9049-5822)
- Mary‐Anne Trabaud (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8614-1071)
- Timothée Bruel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3952-4261)
- Grégory Destras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6817-7118)
- Florence Morfin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1962-808X)
- Jean‐Baptiste Fassier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3885-4987)
- Stéphane Paul (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8830-4273)
- Bruno Lina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8959-2123)
- Antonin Bal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0261-2495)
- Bouchra Mokdad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1017-0564)
- Olivier Schwartz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0729-1475)
- Carla Saade (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5964-0588)
- Thierry Walzer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0857-8179)
- Caroline Duprè (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6074-2725)
- Laurence Josset (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7158-1186)
- William Bolland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8886-0448)
- Olivier Thaunat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3648-8963)
- Dulce Alfaiate (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6160-5578)
- Amélie Massardier-Pilonchery
- Vanessa Escuret (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5298-1002)
- Kahina Saker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8825-5400)
- Nicolas Guibert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1192-8301)
- Maxime Espi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1000-4737)
- Lou-Léna Vrignaud
- Lily Bruyère
- Virginie Pitiot
Institutions
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (FR)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Institut Pasteur (FR)
- Lyon College (US)
- Université Paris Cité (FR)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse (FR)
- Hospices Civils de Lyon (FR)
- Immunité et Cancer (FR)
- Laboratoire National de Référence (MA)
- Hôpital Lyon Sud (FR)
- Hôpital Nord (FR)
- Institut de Recherche Vaccinale (FR)
- Hôpital Edouard Herriot (FR)
- BIOASTER (FR)
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Étienne (FR)
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (FR)
- Unité Mixte de Recherche Epidémiologique et de Surveillance Transport Travail Environnement (FR)
- Université Jean Monnet (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- iScience
- Published
- 2025-02-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.111962
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.19
Funders
- Sanofi
- Fondation Innovations en Infectiologie
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
- Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida et les Hépatites Virales
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Hospices Civils de Lyon
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
- École Normale Supérieure de Lyon