The Glycosylation of Serum IgG Antibodies in Post-COVID-19 and Post-Vaccination Patients

The signature of human serum IgG glycosylation is critical in the defense against pathogens. Alterations of IgG N-glycome were associated with COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) severity, although knowledge on the response to vaccination is limited. IgG N-glycome was analyzed in this study in post-COVID-19 and post-vaccination patients to reveal potential glycosylation-based alterations using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC-UPLC) with fluorescence (FLR) and mass-spectrometric (MS) detection. IgG antibodies were purified from serum samples through protein G affinity chromatography followed by PNGase F digestion-based deglycosylation. The released glycans were fluorescently derivatized by procainamide labeling and purified via solid-phase extraction. Higher levels of sialylation and afucosylation were identified in post-COVID-19 patients, which was further expanded by vaccination, but only in those who were previously SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infected.