Thread by @lasradoN

Our new preprint on the durability of #bivalent #mRNA vaccines against #XBB.1.5 is out now! We looked at both humoral & cellular immune responses up to 3 months post boost! @BarouchLab @airisyc @ocpowers5599 @mrowe1625

TL;DR: PLEASE GET A BOOSTER!

biorxiv.org/content/10.110…

We first looked at the nAbs induced by bivalent mRNA vaccines against BQ.1.1, XBB.1, and XBB.1.5 at baseline, 3-weeks-post boost and 3 months post boost. nAb levels peaked at week 3 post-boost, but waned over a period of time.

We also looked at CD4 and CD8 T cell responses post boost, and found at least a 2-fold increment in CD8T cells specific to BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.5, but not as much for WA_1! What does this mean for T cells? Do they have a more pronounced role than previously understood?

Although the nAb titers wane over a period of time, the cross-reactive T cell responses may continue to provide protection against severe disease! It could also mean the non-neutralizing Abs may have a role to play here which is yet to be determined!

There are quite a few unknowns, but what’s definitive is that EVERYONE needs to be vaccinated, and the vaccinated need to get boosted!

Thanks to all the study participants and the whole @BarouchLab for the hard work!

@EricTopol @TRyanGregory @PeacockFlu @dfocosi @ENirenberg @drsanjaygupta @angie_rasmussen @CorneliusRoemer @yunlong_cao @SystemsVirology @LongDesertTrain