Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40872886›Full record

ArticleVaccines2025

Humoral and Memory B Cell Responses Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection and mRNA Vaccination.

Martina Bozhkova, Ralitsa Raycheva, Steliyan Petrov, Dobrina Dudova, Teodora Kalfova, Marianna Murdjeva, Hristo Taskov, Velizar Shivarov

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Vaccines, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Martina BozhkovaDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology-"Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev", Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.ORCID 0000-0003-4230-3299
Ralitsa RaychevaDepartment of Social Medicine and Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Steliyan PetrovDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology-"Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev", Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.ORCID 0000-0003-0522-5682
Dobrina DudovaDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology-"Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev", Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Teodora KalfovaDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology-"Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev", Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.ORCID 0000-0001-6395-4109
Marianna MurdjevaDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology-"Prof. Dr. Elissay Yanev", Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Hristo TaskovResearch Institute, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Velizar ShivarovDepartment of Experimental Research, Medical University-Pleven, 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria.ORCID 0000-0001-5362-7999

Funding

Duration of immunological memory after vaccination against COVID-19 - cellular and humoral immunity defined by memory T and B cell subsets КП-06-Н53/1Strategic Research and Innovation Program for the Development of MU - PLOVDIV-(SRIPD-MUP) ", Creation of a network of research higher schools, National plan for recovery and sustainability, financed by the European Union - NextGenerationEU. SRIPD-MUP
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUnderstanding the duration and quality of immune memory following SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination is critical for informing public health strategies and vaccine development. While waning antibody levels have raised concerns about long-term protection, the persistence of memory B cells (MBCs) and T cells plays a vital role in sustaining immunity. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe conducted a longitudinal prospective study over 12 months, enrolling 285 participants in total, either after natural infection or vaccination with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273. Peripheral blood samples were collected at four defined time points (baseline, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 12-13 months after vaccination or disease onset). Immune responses were assessed through serological assays quantifying anti-RBD IgG and neutralizing antibodies, B-ELISPOT, and multiparameter flow cytometry for S1-specific memory B cells.

resultsBoth mRNA vaccines induced robust B cell and antibody responses, exceeding those observed after natural infection. Memory B cell frequencies peaked at 6 months and declined by 12 months, but remained above the baseline. The mRNA-1273 vaccine elicited stronger and more durable humoral and memory B-cell-mediated immunity compared to BNT162b2, likely influenced by its higher mRNA dose and longer prime-boost interval. Class-switched memory B cells and S1-specific B cells were significantly expanded in vaccine recipients. Natural infection induced more heterogeneous immune memory.

conclusionsBoth mRNA vaccination and natural SARS-CoV-2 infection induce a comparable expansion of memory B cell subsets, reflecting a consistent pattern of humoral immune responses across all studied groups. These findings highlight the importance of vaccination in generating sustained immunological memory and suggest that the vaccine platform and dosage influence the magnitude and durability of immune responses against SARS-CoV-2.

Indexed as

antigen-specific B cellsB cell memoryBNT162b2COVID-19humoral immune responsemRNA-1273SARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID40872886
PMCPMC12390443

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.