Immunoglobulin G follow-up and immune response longevity analysis in SARS-CoV-2 convalescent patients and vaccinated individuals: A longitudinal analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although the detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules has long been considered to be crucial for successful humoral immune defence against infections and harmful metabolites, it has become increasingly important in relation to SARS-CoV-2 research.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare longitudinal changes in IgG titres in post-infection and post-vaccination Iraqi participants, and to estimate the protective benefits of the two principal vaccines used in Iraq.

METHODS:

This quantitative study used samples from SARS-CoV-2 recovered patients ( $n=$ 75), those vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer or Sinopharm vaccine ( $n=$ 75), and healthy unvaccinated individuals ( $n=$ 50) who formed a control group. Participant ages (range 20–80 years) and sex (52.7% men, 47.3% females). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure IgG.

RESULTS:

IgG antibody levels peaked in the first month and tapered off in the following three months in both convalescent and vaccinated groups. The latter showed a significant decrease in IgG titres than in the convalescent group. Samples from the group given the mRNA vaccination that targeted spike (S) proteins might have a cross-reactivity between nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) proteins.

CONCLUSIONS:

Participants who had recovered from or who were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 exhibited a protective, persistent and durable humoral immune response for at least a month. This was more potent in the SARS-CoV-2 convalescent group compared to the vaccinated cohort. The IgG titres decayed faster after vaccination with Sinopharm than following the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.