Comparison of antibody immune responses between BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in naïve and previously infected individuals

  1. Duaa W Al-Sadeq
  2. Farah M Shurrab
  3. Ahmed Ismail
  4. Fathima Humaira Amanullah
  5. Swapna Thomas
  6. Nader Aldewik
  7. Hadi M Yassine
  8. Hanan F Abdul Rahim
  9. Laith Abu-Raddad
  10. Gheyath K Nasrallah

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Abstract

Background

Two mRNA vaccines, Pfizer-BNT162b2 and Moderna-mRNA-1273, obtained the Emergency Use Listing by WHO for preventing COVID-19. However, little is known about the difference in antibody responses induced by these two mRNA vaccines in naïve and previously infected (PI) individuals.

Method

We investigated the levels of anti-S-RBD (total, IgG and IgA) levels in naïve and PI individuals, 1–13 (median = 6) weeks following the second dose of either vaccine. Results in the naïve-vaccinated group, the mRNA-1273 vaccine induced significantly higher levels of anti-S-RBD total antibodies (3.5-fold; P < 0.001), IgG (2-fold, P < 0.01) and IgA (2.1-fold, P < 0.001) as compared with the BNT162b2 vaccine. In addition, both vaccines produced significantly higher anti-S-RBD total antibody levels in the PI-group compared with naïve-vaccinated group. The PI group elicited a higher level of anti-S-RBD IgG than the naïve-BNT162b2 (P = 0.05), but not more than the naïve-mRNA-1273 (P = 0.9) group. Interestingly, the PI vaccinated group elicited a comparable level of IgA ratio to the naïve-mRNA-1273 group but significantly higher than the naïve-BNT162b2 group (1.6-fold, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our results showed that the PI-vaccinated group produces a higher level of antibodies than the naïve vaccinated group, particularly for those vaccinated with BNT162b2.

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  1. Version published to 10.1093/jtm/taab190
  2. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2021.10.05.21264550: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    EthicsIRB: The study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board at Qatar University (QU-IRB 1537-FBA/21).
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Antibodies
    SentencesResources
    2.2 Serology testing: Serological testing was done using the automated analyzer CL-900i® from Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics [6-8] using two chemiluminescence immunoassays to detect the vaccine-induced antibodies: (i) The SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG (catalog No. SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG122, Mindray, China), the cut off index for the kit is ≥10-1000 BAU/mL, and (ii) The anti-S-RBD SARS-CoV-2 total antibodies (IgG, IgA, and IgM) (Catalog No. SARS-CoV-2 Total Antibodies 122, Mindray, China) with positive cut off index of ≥10-2000 AU/mL.
    anti-S-RBD SARS-CoV-2 total antibodies (IgG
    suggested: None
    IgM
    suggested: (RevMAb Biosciences Cat# 31-1020-00, RRID:AB_2716360)
    In addition, the Euroimmun anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA ELISA (Catalog No. EI 2606-9601 A, Germany) was used to measure the anti-S1 antibody levels [9].
    anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA
    suggested: None
    anti-S1
    suggested: None
    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    All samples were tested for the presence of anti-N SARS-CoV-2 IgG using the Architect automated chemiluminescent assay (Abbott Laboratories, USA) according to the manufacturers’ instructions [8].
    Abbott Laboratories
    suggested: None
    2.3 Statistical analysis: Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 9.2.0. (San Diego, CA, USA).
    GraphPad Prism
    suggested: (GraphPad Prism, RRID:SCR_002798)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    The study has some limitations; other immune parameters (SRBD-IgM and the neutralizing antibodies), the durability, and the kinetics of antibodies after vaccination need further investigation to provide a complete immune response profile. Further, most of the PI group received the BNT162b2 and only few received the mRNA-1327 vaccine.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We found bar graphs of continuous data. We recommend replacing bar graphs with more informative graphics, as many different datasets can lead to the same bar graph. The actual data may suggest different conclusions from the summary statistics. For more information, please see Weissgerber et al (2015).

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    Results from scite Reference Check: We found no unreliable references.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  3. Version published to 10.1101/2021.10.05.21264550v1 on medRxiv