Sign in Subscribe
Vaccines

Robust SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell immune memory persists long-term in immunocompetent individuals post BNT162b2 double shot

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research conducted at the Gene and Cell Therapy Center in Thessaloniki, Greece, has demonstrated that mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 continue to provide robust protection against SARS-CoV-2, even after long-term exposure. The study, published in Heliyon, found that immunocompetent individuals who received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine maintained a sustained cellular immune response against the virus, including high cytotoxicity against both the unmutated virus and the delta variant. This finding suggests that even as CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies and T-cells decline over time, the immune system's ability to control and fight off the virus remains robust.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study demonstrated that mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 provide long-term protection against SARS-CoV-2, even after eight months post-vaccination.
  • Immunocompetent individuals who received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine maintained a sustained cellular immune response against the virus, including high cytotoxicity against both the unmutated virus and the delta variant.
  • The study's findings suggest that ongoing T-cell immune memory can provide sustained protection against SARS-CoV-2, even in the absence of CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies.
  • The study's results have significant implications for understanding the immune system's response to COVID-19 and for the development of future vaccine strategies.
  • The research team, led by Anastasia Papadopoulou, consisted of experts from the Gene and Cell Therapy Center, as well as Fani Stavridou, Maria Giannaki, Kiriaki Paschoudi, Fani Chatzopoulou, Eleni Gavriilaki, Grigorios Georgolopoulos, Achilles Anagnostopoulos, and Evangelia Yannaki.
  • The study has been published in Heliyon, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Elsevier.

Statistics:

  • 10 health-care professionals were studied in the research, with blood samples taken 8 months post-full BNT162b2 vaccination.
  • The study found that CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies and T-cells declined over time, but the immune system's ability to control and fight off the virus remained robust.
  • The study measured CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies using immunoassay and T-cell responses using Elispot for interferon-g.
  • The study's findings suggest that immunocompetent individuals can maintain a sustained cellular immune response against SARS-CoV-2 for at least 8 months post-vaccination.

Sources:

  • Papadopoulou, A., et al. (2022). Robust SARS-COV-2-specific T-cell immune memory persists long-term in immunocompetent individuals post BNT162b2 double shot. Heliyon, 8(7), e09863. (Heliyon - http://www.heliyon.com)
  • NewsRx. Gene and Cell Therapy Center Researchers Have Published New Data on COVID-19 (Robust SARS-COV-2-specific T-cell immune memory persists long-term in immunocompetent individuals post BNT162b2 double shot). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. July 31, 2022; p 301.

Read more