SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern partially escape humoral but not T-cell responses in COVID-19

BNT162b2 vaccination elicited antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and virus-specific cellular immune responses efficiently in single dose injection for mild COVID-19 convalescent patient and two doses injection for sero-negative patients. The neutralizing activity of antibodies for B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 was less efficient than that for original SARS-CoV-2 strain. In contrast, CD4+ T cell activation in response to these variants was comparable with that to original strain. Although some variants can escape humoral immunity induced by BNT162b2 vaccination, virus-specific CD4+ T cell activation is not affected by the mutations.