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

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Published: Feb 7, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20411/pai.v8i2.627
Keywords:
COVID-19, Vaccines, Antibodies, Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, Immunity, Humoral

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Suvi T. Jokiranta
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki; Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Simo Miettinen
Viral Zoonosis Research Unit, Medicum, Department of Virology, University of Helsinki; Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Sami Salonen
HUS Diagnostic Center, Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
Lauri Kareinen
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki; Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki; Finnish Food Authority, Helsinki, Finland
Ruut Uusitalo
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki; Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Essi M. Korhonen
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki; Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Jenni Virtanen
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki; Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Ilkka Kivistö
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki; Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Kirsi Aaltonen
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki; Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Dina A. Mosselhy
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki; Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Microbiological Unit, Fish Diseases Department, Animal Health Research Institute, ARC, Dokki, Giza 12618, Egypt
Tinja Lääveri
Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Aalto University, Department of Computer Science, School of Science, Espoo, Finland
Anu Kantele
Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki; Meilahti Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research Center, MeiVac, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
T. Petteri Arstila
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki; Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Hanna Jarva
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki; Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki; HUS Diagnostic Center, Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
Olli Vapalahti
Viral Zoonosis Research Unit, Medicum, Department of Virology, University of Helsinki; Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki; HUS Diagnostic Center, Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital; Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Santtu Heinonen
New Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
Eliisa Kekäläinen
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki; Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki; HUS Diagnostic Center, Clinical Microbiology, 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 SARS-CoV-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.

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