Cell Host & Microbe
Volume 29, Issue 7, 14 July 2021, Pages 1137-1150.e6
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Article
A single dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2 elicits Fc-mediated antibody effector functions and T cell responses

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2021.06.001Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Three weeks after the first BNT162b2 dose, weak neutralizing antibodies are elicited

  • These antibodies have robust Fc-mediated effector functions

  • Vaccination of individuals previously infected boosts humoral and cellular responses

  • Strong correlations between T helper cell and humoral responses are observed

Summary

While the standard regimen of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 includes two doses administered 3 weeks apart, some public health authorities are spacing these doses, raising concerns about efficacy. However, data indicate that a single dose can be up to 90% effective starting 14 days post-administration. To assess the mechanisms contributing to protection, we analyzed humoral and T cell responses three weeks after a single BNT162b2 dose. We observed weak neutralizing activity elicited in SARS-CoV-2 naive individuals but strong anti-receptor binding domain and spike antibodies with Fc-mediated effector functions and cellular CD4+ T cell responses. In previously infected individuals, a single dose boosted all humoral and T cell responses, with strong correlations between T helper and antibody immunity. Our results highlight the potential role of Fc-mediated effector functions and T cell responses in vaccine efficacy. They also provide support for spacing doses to vaccinate more individuals in conditions of vaccine scarcity.

Keywords

coronavirus
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
spike glycoproteins
mRNA vaccine
variants
humoral responses
neutralization
ADCC
T cell responses

Cited by (0)

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Present address: Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden

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These authors contributed equally

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