Increased neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant after heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2 versus homologous BNT162b2 vaccination

Markus Bauswein; David Peterhoff; Annelie Plentz; Andreas Hiergeist; Ralf Wagner; André Gessner; Bernd Salzberger; Barbara Schmidt; Stilla Bauernfeind

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2021.103694

Increased neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant after heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2 versus homologous BNT162b2 vaccination

iScience. 2022 Feb 18;25(2):103694. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103694. Epub 2022 Jan 5.

Authors

Markus Bauswein¹, David Peterhoff^{1

2}, Annelie Plentz¹, Andreas Hiergeist^{1

2}, Ralf Wagner^{1

2}, André Gessner^{1

2}, Bernd Salzberger³, Barbara Schmidt^{1

2}, Stilla Bauernfeind³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
² Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
³ Department of Infection Prevention and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

Abstract

Heterologous SARS-CoV-2 vaccine approaches with a second mRNA-based vaccine have been favored in the recommendations of many countries over homologous vector-based ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination after reports of thromboembolic events and lower efficacy of this regimen. In the middle of 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern (VoC) has become predominant in many countries worldwide. Data addressing the neutralization capacity of a heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/mRNA-based vaccination approach against the Delta VoC in comparison to the widely used homologous mRNA-based vaccine regimen are limited. Here, we compare serological immune responses of a cohort of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2-vaccinated participants with those of BNT162b2/BNT162b2 vaccinated ones and show that neutralization capacity against the Delta VoC is significantly increased in sera of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2-vaccinated participants. This overall effect can be attributed to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2-vaccinated women, especially those with more severe adverse effects leading to sick leave following second immunization.

Keywords: Immune response; Immunology.