Meng Zhang

Meng Zhang

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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26 April 2024 in Vaccines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
XWXun Wang
Xun Wang
MZMeng Zhang
Meng Zhang
KWKaifeng Wei
Kaifeng Wei
CLChen Li
Chen Li
JYJinghui Yang
Jinghui Yang
YZYanliang Zhang
Yanliang Zhang
The rapid mutation of SARS-CoV-2 has led to multiple rounds of large-scale breakthrough infection and reinfection worldwide. However, the dynamic changes of humoral and cellular immunity responses to several subvariants after infection remain unclear. In our study, a 6-month longitudinal immune response evaluation was conducted on 118 sera and 50 PBMC samples from 49 healthy individuals who experienced BA.5/BF.7/XBB breakthrough infection or BA.5/BF.7-XBB reinfection. By studying antibody response, memory B cell, and IFN-γ secreting CD4+/CD8+ T cell response to several SARS-CoV-2 variants, we observed that each component of immune response exhibited distinct kinetics. Either BA.5/BF.7/XBB breakthrough infection or BA.5/BF.7-XBB reinfection induces relatively high level of binding and neutralizing antibody titers against Omicron subvariants at an early time point, which rapidly decreases over time. Most of the individuals at 6 months post-breakthrough infection completely lost their neutralizing activities against BQ.1.1, CH.1.1, BA.2.86, JN.1 and XBB subvariants. Individuals with BA.5/BF.7-XBB reinfection exhibit immune imprinting shifting and recall pre-existing BA.5/BF.7 neutralization antibodies. In the BA.5 breakthrough infection group, the frequency of BA.5 and XBB.1.16-RBD specific memory B cells, resting memory B cells, and intermediate memory B cells gradually increased over time. On the other hand, the frequency of IFN-γ secreting CD4+/CD8+ T cells induced by WT/BA.5/XBB.1.16 spike trimer remains stable over time. Overall, our research indicates that individuals with breakthrough infection have rapidly declining antibody levels but have a relatively stable cellular immunity that can provide some degree of protection from future exposure to new antigens.