de Oliveira Fatima de Cássia Evangelista, Dinelly Pinto Ana Carolina Matias, Silva Maria Francilene Souza, Lizano Garcia Max Moreira, Rodrigues Fernandes Maria da Conceição, Damasceno Gabriela Alexandria, Lima de Melo Amanda Campelo, Matsui Tamires Cardoso, Goebel de Souza Tamiris de Fátima, Severino Fernanda Gadelha, Silveira Reis Virgínia Angélica, Passaes Caroline, de Carvalho Araújo Fernanda Montenegro, Monteiro de Andrade Luiz Odorico, Gambim Fonseca Marcela Helena
Unidade de Apoio ao Diagnóstico da COVID-19, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Eusébio 61773-270, Ceará, Brazil.
Pasteur-Fiocruz Center on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Eusébio 61773-270, Ceará, Brazil.
Pathogens. 2025 Apr 30;14(5):445. doi: 10.3390/pathogens14050445.
SARS-CoV-2 has caused global disruptions, prompting studies on immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly antibodies against the Spike (S) protein. However, responses to the Nucleocapsid (N) protein remain less explored. This study evaluated whether CoronaVac induces anti-N antibodies, and analyzed antibody dynamics after a BNT162b2 booster, given that CoronaVac targets both S and N proteins, while BNT162b2 targets only the S protein. Serum samples were collected at multiple intervals post-vaccination. The percentage of participants with positive anti-N antibodies increased from 40.26% to 62.09% after two doses of CoronaVac, but declined over time, reaching 29.07% and 18.87% after the second and third doses, respectively. However, seropositivity rose to 43.48% three months after the booster. Anti-S antibody levels peaked at 31,394 AU/mL after the booster, compared to 723.4 AU/mL after the first dose. These findings indicate that CoronaVac stimulates antibody responses against both S and N proteins. Monitoring antibody dynamics is crucial for optimizing vaccination strategies, particularly for high-risk populations, to help control COVID-19.
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）已造成全球混乱，促使人们对新冠病毒疫苗的免疫反应进行研究，尤其是针对刺突（S）蛋白的抗体。然而，针对核衣壳（N）蛋白的反应仍较少被探索。鉴于科兴新冠疫苗（CoronaVac）同时针对S和N蛋白，而BNT162b2仅针对S蛋白，本研究评估了科兴新冠疫苗是否能诱导抗N抗体，并分析了接种BNT162b2加强针后的抗体动态变化。在接种疫苗后的多个时间点采集血清样本。两剂科兴新冠疫苗接种后，抗N抗体呈阳性的参与者比例从40.26%增至62.09%，但随后随时间下降，在第二剂和第三剂接种后分别降至29.07%和18.87%。然而，加强针接种三个月后，血清阳性率升至43.48%。加强针接种后，抗S抗体水平峰值为31,394 AU/mL，而首剂接种后为723.4 AU/mL。这些发现表明，科兴新冠疫苗能刺激针对S和N蛋白的抗体反应。监测抗体动态变化对于优化疫苗接种策略至关重要，特别是对于高危人群，有助于控制新冠疫情。
