In those recovered from Sars-CoV-2 infection, even asymptomatic, even in the absence of Long Covid symptoms, a state of inflammation that can be measured through specific spy markers resists. A fire not yet extinguished, which however pushes the production of anti-coronavirus antibodies stimulated by vaccination against Covid-19. This is what emerges from a study by the Research Center in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (Epimed) of the University of Insubria, conducted on the health personnel of the Asst dei Sette Laghi di Varese. The results are published in ‘Scientific Reports’, a journal of the Nature group.
The group coordinated by Marco Ferrario, senior professor of occupational medicine, analyzed the data of 175 health workers from Asst Sette Laghi vaccinated with Pfizer / BioNTech’s Comirnaty * vaccine. The aim of the work was to identify the elements that determine the levels of antibodies before and after the anti-Covid vaccination. At the beginning of the study, the antibodies possibly present for a previous Sars-CoV-2 infection and some other biomarkers were measured; subsequently, after the administration of the vaccine, antibody levels were measured at various intervals to monitor the progress of the humoral immune reaction and identify the people who responded the most and fastest.
“The results were encouraging”, report from the University of Insubria. “All subjects responded well to the vaccine”, but “it was observed that many healthcare workers who had had a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, even asymptomatic, still had very high levels of inflammatory biomarkers.” Explains Francesco Gianfagna, associate professor of hygiene and preventive medicine at the Lombard university and first author of the research: “Our analyzes show that after the resolution of the viral infection, inflammatory processes can remain in place, even in the absence of Long Covid symptoms. However, this unresolved inflammation seems to help the antibody response at the same time. “
Further points of interest, the authors point out, come from the analysis of the factors that condition the response to the anti-Covid vaccine. “By analyzing the antibody trajectories with sophisticated statistical techniques, coordinated by Giovanni Veronesi, associate professor of biostatistics at Insubria – they continue from the university – a cluster of health professionals was identified who had reported a response to the most important vaccine: these were those who had had a previous infection and above all still had higher inflammatory levels after the negativization “.
“The vaccine is currently the best weapon to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the virus – comments Licia Iacoviello, director of the Epimed Center and professor of hygiene and preventive medicine at the university – A weapon that works very well, especially in those with residual inflammation after the previous infection “.
Now the second part of the research is underway, on the risk of transmission of the infection, with the participation of 1,500 residents of the city of Varese. The study, conducted in collaboration with Microbiology and the Covid hub of Asst Sette Laghi (professors Fabrizio Maggi, Andreina Baj, Daniela Dalla Gasperina) and with the Ircss Neuromed of Pozzilli, in the province of Isernia, was funded by the Foundation Umberto Veronesi as part of the ‘Together for Covid-19 research’ initiative.