Case Report: Sars-CoV-2 Infection in a Vaccinated Individual: Evaluation of the Immunological Profile and Virus Transmission Risk

Front Immunol. 2021 Jun 23:12:708820. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.708820. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

During the COVID19 pandemic, a range of vaccines displayed high efficacy in preventing disease, severe outcomes of infection, and mortality. However, the immunological correlates of protection, the duration of immune response, the transmission risk over time from vaccinated individuals are currently under active investigation. In this brief report, we describe the case of a vaccinated Healthcare Professional infected with a variant of Sars-CoV-2, who has been extensively investigated in order to draw a complete trajectory of infection. The patient has been monitored for the whole length of infection, assessing the temporal viral load decay, the quantification of viral RNA and subgenomic mRNA, antibodies (anti Sars-CoV-2, IgA, IgG, IgM) and cell-mediated (cytokine, B- and T-cell profiles) responses. Overall, this brief report highlights the efficacy of vaccine in preventing COVID19 disease, accelerating the recovery from infection, reducing the transmission risk, although the use of precautionary measures against Sars-CoV-2 spreading still remain critical.

Keywords: COVID19; Sars-CoV-2 infection; immune response; immunology; vaccination.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / immunology*
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control
  • COVID-19 / transmission
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / immunology*
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious
  • Female
  • Health Personnel*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Italy
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Risk
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Vaccination
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • RNA, Viral
  • BNT162 Vaccine

Supplementary concepts

  • COVID-19 breakthrough infections