Reduced spike specific T-cell responses in COVID-19 vaccinated subjects undergoing SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 remain largely preserved across variants despite waning neutralizing antibodies. However, T-cell immunity may vary with the host's immune status, and data on T-cell responses in post-vaccine infections (PVI) are limited.

Methods

We assessed Spike-specific T-cell responses in 32 vaccinated individuals, 16 of whom experienced PVI. Immune responses were evaluated at three time points: 1 month after the second vaccine dose (T1), 1 month after the booster dose (T2), and, in the PVI group, 1-3 months after the first positive nasal swab (T3). Additionally, we evaluated anti-spike antibody levels, T-cell exhaustion markers, and natural killer cell subsets, focusing on memory-like CD57⁺ NKG2C⁺ cells.

Results

Sub

SUBMITTER: Varchetta S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12446237 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature