Antibody Responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccines Are Detectable in Saliva

• Main Authors: Thomas J. Ketas (Author), Devidas Chaturbhuj (Author), Victor M. Cruz Portillo (Author), Erik Francomano (Author), Encouse Golden (Author), Sharanya Chandrasekhar (Author), Gargi Debnath (Author), Randy Diaz-Tapia (Author), Anila Yasmeen (Author), Kyle D. Kramer (Author), Tarek Munawar (Author), Wilhem Leconet (Author), Zhen Zhao (Author), Philip J.M. Brouwer (Author), Melissa M. Cushing (Author), Rogier W. Sanders (Author), Albert Cupo (Author), P.J. Klasse (Author), Silvia C. Formenti (Author), John P. Moore (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Case Western Reserve University, 2021-06-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

The approved Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines are well known to induce serum antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S)-protein. However, their abilities to elicit mucosal immune responses have not been reported. Saliva antibodies represent mucosal responses that may be relevant to how mRNA vaccines prevent oral and nasal SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Here, we describe the outcome of a cross-sectional study on a healthcare worker cohort (WELCOME-NYPH), in which we assessed whether IgM, IgG, and IgA antibodies to the S-protein and its receptor-binding domain (RBD) were present in serum and saliva samples. Anti-S-protein IgG was detected in 14/31 and 66/66 of saliva samples from uninfected participants after vaccine doses-1 and -2, respectively. IgA antibodies to the S-protein were present in 40/66 saliva samples after dose 2. Anti-S-protein IgG was present in every serum sample from recipients of 2 vaccine doses. Vaccine-induced antibodies against the RBD were also frequently present in saliva and sera. These findings may help our understanding of whether and how vaccines may impede SARS-CoV-2 transmission, including to oral cavity target cells.

Item Description

10.20411/pai.v6i1.441
2469-2964