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. 2021 Dec 6;22(1):7–18. doi: 10.1038/s41577-021-00657-1

Fig. 2. Germinal centre B cell response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Fig. 2

a | The first dose of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA-based vaccine induces a robust germinal centre response that gives rise to plasma cells and memory B cells in previously uninfected individuals. Primary immunization induces a significant increase in the number of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, with about half of individuals developing neutralizing antibodies. However, these antibodies are largely unable to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants. b | The second dose of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-based vaccine induces a significant increase in the antibody response in previously uninfected individuals. Antibodies derived from the secondary immunization have robust neutralizing activity, although there is a decrease in the ability to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants compared with the wild-type (D614G) virus. c | The first dose of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-based vaccine induces a significant increase in the antibody response in individuals who have recovered from previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibodies induced by primary immunization have robust neutralizing activity, with equivalent ability to neutralize wild-type and variant viruses. The number of pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B cells strongly correlates with the magnitude of the antibody response following vaccination. d | The second dose of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-based vaccine does not induce any further increase in antibody titre or neutralizing activity in individuals who have recovered from previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. TFH cell, T follicular helper cell.