How long does natural immunity produced by SARS-CoV-2 infection last?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has posed a global health emergency. The longevity of immunity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after natural infection may have significant implications for the durability of vaccine-induced immunity.

The genome of SARS-CoV-2 encodes four major structural proteins – spike protein (S), nucleoprotein (N), membrane protein (M), and envelope protein (E). Generation of neutralizing antibodies that specifically target the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S protein is essential for controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, circulating antibodies derived from plasma cells dwindle with time, but long-lasting immunological memory may persist in the memory B cells.

Mutations in the S1 subunit may cause changes in the structure of the S protein and RBD and enhance the binding of the virus to the receptor. This may render an increased risk of transmission and severity of the illness along with reduced neutralization capacity by antibodies.

A new study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server followed the adaptive immune response in convalescent patients from Swedish and Italian cohorts—which had earlier shown long-lasting adaptive immune responses to the G614 strain—for 15 months. Here, specific antibody levels and neutralizing antibody titers were tested against variants of concern (VOCs).

The Study

Overall, 188 serum or plasma samples were collected from 136 COVID-19 patients – 98 from Italy and 38 from Sweden, who had a mild-to-severe disease. Plasma from 108 historical negative controls was also analyzed; plasma anti-RBD and anti-S antibody titers were measured.

The results revealed that at the peak of antibody response, anti-RBD immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgA were increased in 77% and 85% of convalescent patients, respectively. However, they quickly decreased from 1-3 months and were detected in less than 4.5% and 11% of the patients tested between 6 and 15 months.

While IgM and IgA anti-S proteins were detected in 88% and 90% of convalescent patients at 15-28 days, respectively, but in less than 23% of patients after 6 to 15 months. The half-lives of RBD- and S-specific IgM antibodies were deduced as 55 and 65 days, respectively, and that of RBD- and S-specific IgA antibodies were 56 days and 55 days, respectively.

Meanwhile, plasma IgG antibodies binding to SARS-CoV-2 RBD and S protein increased in 94% of COVID-19 convalescent participants at 15-28 days of symptoms onset. The median titers gradually decreased by less than 4-fold, from the peak of the antibody response, until six months. Thereafter, they remained steady for up to 15 months.

The half-lives of anti-RBD and anti-S IgG antibody responses were 134 and 113 days, respectively, which were shorter in patients with mild or moderate disease than in severe or critical disease. It was also found that the specific IgG antibody titers plateaued after six months.

Furthermore, the plasma RBD and S-specific IgG antibody titers, 14-35 days post one dose of vaccine, were similar to those six months after infection. While responses after the second dose of vaccine corresponded to those observed at the peak of the antibody response in convalescent patients.

It was also found that neutralization susceptibility to antibodies persisted longer in patients who endured severe or critical illness. Between 9 to 15 months after infection, the majority of the samples elicited neutralizing activity against all strains; however, the proportion was lower for the gamma strain.

The findings indicated that the plasma anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response and neutralizing activity decreased for about six months after infection. Although in lower proportions, the neutralizing activity is usually maintained against Beta, Gamma and Delta variants, for up to 15 months post-infection.

Contrastingly, RBD-specific IgG-producing B cells were maintained in relatively high numbers in all patients followed up between 6- and 15-months post-infection. However, the intensity and duration of the B cell response were not dependent on the disease severity.

In addition, a peak in T-cell response was noted between 3 and 6 months after infection, followed by a significant decrease at 12-15 months.

Inference

The sustained persistence of RBD-IgG titer over time suggests the generation of long-lasting plasma cells. In addition, the results indicated that SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies might be present for a more extended period in some individuals.

Functional neutralizing antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 – anti-S and anti-RBD are essential for viral neutralization and viral clearance. The degree of protection might depend on the initial immune response to viral sensitization and generation of memory B and T cells. Moreover, circulating memory B and T cells and neutralizing antibodies are present in most convalescent patients for up to 15 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Recent studies demonstrated that Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines were less effective in preventing severe infection or acute disease by the Delta strain than the other strains. In addition, even immunity that has developed during the previous waves of the infection may not be fully protective against reinfection with Delta and other VOCs. Thus, convalescent patients do benefit from vaccination.

Despite rapid and robust immune responses in naturally infected individuals after two doses of vaccination, further studies on the longevity of this immunity are warranted.

*Important Notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.

Written by

Nidhi Saha

I am a medical content writer and editor. My interests lie in public health awareness and medical communication. I have worked as a clinical dentist and as a consultant research writer in an Indian medical publishing house. It is my constant endeavor is to update knowledge on newer treatment modalities relating to various medical fields. I have also aided in proofreading and publication of manuscripts in accredited medical journals. I like to sketch, read and listen to music in my leisure time.