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Do Quantitative Levels of Anti-Spike-IgG Antibodies Aid in Predicting Protection from SARS-CoV-2 Infection? Results from a Longitudinal Study in a Police Cohort
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  • Parham Sendi,
  • Nadja Widmer,
  • Mattia Branca,
  • Marc Thierstein,
  • Annina Elisabeth Büchi,
  • Dominik Güntensperger,
  • Manuel Raphael Blum,
  • Rossella Baldan,
  • Caroline Tinguely,
  • Dik Heg,
  • Elitza S. Theel,
  • Elie Berbari,
  • Aaron J Tande,
  • Andrea Endimiani,
  • Peter Gowland,
  • Christoph Niederhauser
Parham Sendi
Universitat Bern Institut fur Infektionskrankheiten

Corresponding Author:parham.sendi@unibe.ch

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Nadja Widmer
Blutspende SRK Schweiz AG
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Mattia Branca
Universitat Bern
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Marc Thierstein
Kantonspolizei Bern
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Annina Elisabeth Büchi
Insel Gruppe AG
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Dominik Güntensperger
Universitat Bern
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Manuel Raphael Blum
Insel Gruppe AG
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Rossella Baldan
Universitat Bern Institut fur Infektionskrankheiten
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Caroline Tinguely
Blutspende SRK Schweiz AG
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Dik Heg
Universitat Bern
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Elitza S. Theel
Mayo Clinic Division of Clinical Microbiology
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Elie Berbari
Mayo Clinic Division of Infectious Diseases
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Aaron J Tande
Mayo Clinic Division of Infectious Diseases
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Andrea Endimiani
Universitat Bern Institut fur Infektionskrankheiten
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Peter Gowland
Blutspende SRK Schweiz AG
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Christoph Niederhauser
Universitat Bern Institut fur Infektionskrankheiten
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Abstract

Objectives In a COVID-19 sero-surveillance cohort study with predominantly healthy and vaccinated individuals, the objectives were (i) to investigate longitudinally the factors associated with the quantitative dynamics of anti-spike IgG antibody levels, (ii) to evaluate whether the antibody levels were associated with protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection and (iii) to assess whether the association was different in the pre-Omicron compared with the Omicron period. Methods The QuantiVac Euroimmun ELISA test was used to quantify anti-S1 IgG levels. The entire study period (16 months), the 11-month pre-Omicron period and the cross-sectional analysis prior to the Omicron surge included 3219, 2310 and 895 reactive serum samples from 949, 919 and 895 study participants, respectively. Mixed-effect linear, mixed-effect time-to-event and logistic regression models were used to achieve the objectives. Results Age and time since infection or vaccination were the only factors associated with a decline of anti-S1 IgG levels. Antibody levels were significantly associated with protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the association was higher for the Omicron than for the Alpha and Delta variants. In a prediction model, it was estimated that >8000 BAU/mL anti-S1 IgG was required to reduce the risk of infection with Omicron variants by 20% to 30% for 90 days. Conclusions Anti-S1 IgG antibody levels are associated with protection from infection. The levels in the pre-Omicron periods were less significant than during the Omicron surge, which in turn required very high levels for protection in a statistical model.
24 Mar 2023Submitted to Journal of Medical Virology
27 Mar 2023Submission Checks Completed
27 Mar 2023Assigned to Editor
27 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Mar 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
24 Apr 20231st Revision Received
25 Apr 2023Assigned to Editor
25 Apr 2023Submission Checks Completed
25 Apr 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
05 Jun 20232nd Revision Received
05 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
05 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
05 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Accept