Antibody and B cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination

Antibodies, and the B cell and plasma cell populations responsible for their production, are key components of the human immune system's response to SARS-CoV-2, which has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Here, we review findings addressing the nature of antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 and their role in protecting from infection or modulating COVID-19 disease severity. In just over a year, much has been learned, and replicated in independent studies, about human immune responses to this pathogen, contributing to the development of effective vaccines. Nevertheless, important questions remain about the duration and effectiveness of antibody responses, differences between immunity derived from infection compared to vaccination, the cellular basis for serological findings, and the extent to which viral variants will escape from current immunity.

Automated summary

Human immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 have made significant progress in understanding the nature of antibody responses and their role in protecting against infection or modulating the severity of COVID-19, aiding in the development of effective vaccines. However, important questions remain unanswered regarding the duration and effectiveness of antibody responses, immunity differences between infection and vaccination, cellular basis for serological findings, and the potential impact of viral variants on current immunity.