Stable Levels of Antibodies Against Unrelated Toxoid Vaccines After COVID-19: COVID-19 Infection Does Not Affect Toxoid Vaccine Antibody Levels

Suvi T Jokiranta; Simo Miettinen; Sami Salonen; Lauri Kareinen; Ruut Uusitalo; Essi M Korhonen; Jenni Virtanen; Ilkka Kivistö; Kirsi Aaltonen; Dina A Mosselhy; Tinja Lääveri; Anu Kantele; T Petteri Arstila; Hanna Jarva; Olli Vapalahti; Santtu Heinonen; Eliisa Kekäläinen

doi:10.20411/pai.v8i2.627

Stable Levels of Antibodies Against Unrelated Toxoid Vaccines After COVID-19: COVID-19 Infection Does Not Affect Toxoid Vaccine Antibody Levels

Pathog Immun. 2024 Feb 7;8(2):74-87. doi: 10.20411/pai.v8i2.627. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Suvi T Jokiranta^{1

2}, Simo Miettinen^{3

4}, Sami Salonen⁵, Lauri Kareinen^{4

6

7}, Ruut Uusitalo^{4

6}, Essi M Korhonen^{4

6}, Jenni Virtanen^{4

6}, Ilkka Kivistö^{4

6}, Kirsi Aaltonen^{4

6}, Dina A Mosselhy^{4

6

8}, Tinja Lääveri^{9

10}, Anu Kantele^{11

12}, T Petteri Arstila^{1

2}, Hanna Jarva^{1

2

5}, Olli Vapalahti^{3

4

5

6}, Santtu Heinonen¹³, Eliisa Kekäläinen^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
² Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
³ Viral Zoonosis Research Unit, Medicum, Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
⁴ Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
⁵ HUS Diagnostic Center, Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
⁶ Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
⁷ Finnish Food Authority, Helsinki, Finland.
⁸ Microbiological Unit, Fish Diseases Department, Animal Health Research Institute, ARC, Dokki, Giza 12618, Egypt.
⁹ Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
¹⁰ Aalto University, Department of Computer Science, School of Science, Espoo, Finland.
¹¹ Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
¹² Meilahti Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research Center, MeiVac, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
¹³ New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Abstract

Background: Lymphopenia is common in COVID-19. This has raised concerns that COVID-19 could affect the immune system akin to measles infection, which causes immune amnesia and a reduction in protective antibodies.

Methods: We recruited COVID-19 patients (n = 59) in Helsinki, Finland, and collected plasma samples on 2 to 3 occasions during and after infection. We measured IgG antibodies to diphtheria toxin, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis toxin, along with total IgG, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG, and neutralizing antibodies. We also surveyed the participants for up to 17 months for long-term impaired olfaction as a proxy for prolonged post-acute COVID-19 symptoms.

Results: No significant differences were found in the unrelated vaccine responses while the serological response against COVID-19 was appropriate. During the acute phase of the disease, the SARSCoV-2 IgG levels were lower in outpatients when compared to inpatients. SARS-CoV-2 serology kinetics matched expectations. In the acute phase, anti-tetanus and anti-diphtheria IgG levels were lower in patients with prolonged impaired olfaction during follow up than in those without.

Conclusions: We could not detect significant decline in overall humoral immunity during or after COVID-19 infection. In severe COVID-19, there appears to be a temporary decline in total IgG levels.

Keywords: Antibodies; COVID-19; Humoral; Immunity; Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome; Vaccines.