Immune responses associated with protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection

Authors:

• Reynaldi, Arnold
• Lee, Wen Shi
• Selva, Kevin J.
• Audsley, Jennifer
• Trieu, Mai-Chi
• Chung, Amy W.
• Cromer, Deborah
• Tan, Hyon-Xhi
• Wheatley, Adam K.
• Juno, Jennifer A.
• Khoury, David S.
• Davenport, Miles P.
• Kent, Stephen J.

Details:

Vaccine, Volume 81, 2026-05-10

Article Link: Click here

Conflicting results have emerged regarding immune correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2. In this secondary analysis of a trial of immediate versus delayed bivalent mRNA booster vaccination, we studied a range of humoral and cellular immune responses 28 days after vaccination and analyzed their association with subsequent symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. We found neutralizing antibodies and other plasma antibody titers correlated with prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In a multivariate model, only neutralizing antibodies remained associated with protection from infection (p = 0.021). There was no significant correlation observed between B and T cell responses to Spike and protection. Our findings add to evidence of antibody correlates of prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Trial registration: ANZCTR 12622000411741.