SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Are Persisting in Saliva for More Than 15 Months After Infection and Become Strongly Boosted After Vaccination

Front Immunol. 2021 Dec 9:12:798859. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.798859. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in saliva serve as first line of defense against the virus. They are present in the mucosa, more precisely in saliva, after a recovered infection and also following vaccination. We report here the antibody persistence in plasma and in saliva up to 15 months after mild COVID-19. The IgG antibody response was measured every two months in 72 participants using an established and validated in-house ELISA assay. In addition, the virus inhibitory activity of plasma antibodies was assessed in a surrogate virus neutralization test before and after vaccination. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody concentrations remained stable in plasma and saliva and the response was strongly boosted after one dose COVID-19 vaccination.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antibody; convalescent; mucosa; neutralization; saliva; vaccination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • COVID-19 / immunology*
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Saliva / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Immunoglobulin G