A basic study for inducing high quality neutralizing antibody responses through SARS-CoV-2 vaccination

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K16383
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 54030:Infectious disease medicine-related
• Research Institution: National Institute of Infectious Diseases
• Principal Investigator: KOTAKI Ryutaro 国立感染症研究所, 治療薬・ワクチン開発研究センター, 研究員 (20783674)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 新型コロナウイルス / ワクチン / 感染 / 抗体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, plasma antibody responses induced in COVID-19 convalescent and vaccinated subjects were compared.
As a result, the convalescent plasma antibodies showed higher neutralizing potency, a neutralization titer normalized to RBD-binding antibody titer, indicating those two groups induced qualitatively different antibody responses. Further, the study revealed the convalescent plasma antibodies focused on a RBD region which directly interact with a host receptor compared with those in the vaccinees. This may be involved in the high neutralizing potency of the convalescent plasma antibodies.

Free Research Field

免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、新型コロナウイルスの感染によって誘導される抗体がワクチン接種によって誘導される抗体よりも効率よくウイルスを中和できることが明らかとなった。本研究により得られた知見を発展させていくことで、将来的にワクチン接種により誘導される抗体応答をより質の高いものにしていくことができると考えられる。