Monkeypox Virus Infection Stimulates a More Robust and Durable Neutralizing Antibody Response Compared to Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Vaccination
Christopher N. Selverian, Stephanie R. Monticelli, Yakin Jaleta, Gorka Lasso, Megan Demouth, Annalisa Meola, Jacob Berrigan, Thomas Batchelor, Leandro Battini, Pablo Guardado‐Calvo, Andrew S. Herbert, Kartik Chandran, Eric A. Meyerowitz, Emily Happy Miller
Abstract
Monkeypox virus (MPXV) has recently caused a global disease outbreak in humans. Differences in the neutralizing antibody response to vaccination versus MPXV infection remain poorly understood. Here, we examined the neutralization of MPXV and vaccinia virus by sera from a cohort of convalescent and vaccinated individuals at 1 and 8 months postexposure. Convalescent individuals displayed higher neutralizing antibody titers against MPXV than vaccinated and MPXV-naive persons at 1 month postexposure. Neutralizing antibody titers had waned significantly in both groups at 8 months. This study suggests that additional vaccine strategies are needed to elicit a durable humoral response and prevent breakthrough infections.