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Cross-reactive antibody responses to coronaviruses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination
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  • Richard SH Lee,
  • Samuel Cheng,
  • Jin Zhao,
  • Annie YS Tsoi,
  • Kaman KM Lau,
  • Coco HC Chan,
  • John KC Li,
  • David Hui,
  • Malik Peiris,
  • Hui-Ling Yen
Richard SH Lee
The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health
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Samuel Cheng
The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health
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Jin Zhao
The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health
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Annie YS Tsoi
The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health
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Kaman KM Lau
The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health
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Coco HC Chan
The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health
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John KC Li
The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health
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David Hui
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
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Malik Peiris
The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health
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Hui-Ling Yen
The University of Hong Kong School of Public Health

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Background The newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 possesses shared antigenic epitopes with other human coronaviruses. We investigated if COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection may boost cross-reactive antibodies to other human coronaviruses. Methods Pre- and post-vaccination sera from SARS-CoV-2 naïve healthy subjects who received three doses of the mRNA vaccine (BioNTech, BNT) or the inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac, CV) were used to monitor the level of cross-reactive antibodies raised against other human coronaviruses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In comparison, convalescent sera from COVID-19 patients with or without prior vaccination history were also tested. Pseudoparticle neutralization assay was performed to detect neutralization antibody against MERS-CoV. Results Among SARS-CoV-2 infection naïve subjects, BNT or CV significantly increased the anti-S2 antibodies against Betacoronaviruses (OC43 and MERS-CoV) but not Alphacoronaviruses (229E). The pre-vaccination antibody response to the common cold human coronaviruses did not negatively impact the post-vaccination antibody response to SARS-CoV-2. Cross-reactive antibodies that binds to the S2 protein of MERS-CoV were similarly detected from the convalescent sera of COVID-19 patients with or without vaccination history. However, these anti-S2 antibodies do not possess neutralizing activity in MERS-CoV pseudoparticle neutralisation tests. Conclusions Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination may potentially modulate population immune landscape against previously exposed or novel human coronaviruses. The findings have implications for future sero-epidemiological studies on MERS-CoV.
02 Feb 2024Submitted to Influenza and other respiratory viruses
05 Feb 2024Submission Checks Completed
05 Feb 2024Assigned to Editor
06 Feb 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Mar 20241st Revision Received
30 Mar 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
19 Apr 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Apr 2024Editorial Decision: Accept