SARS-CoV-2-specific plasma cells are not durably established in the bone marrow long-lived compartment after mRNA vaccination

The preprint operates within the immunological paradigm of long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) as the basis for durable humoral immunity. It specifically focuses on the role of bone marrow LLPCs in maintaining long-term antibody responses after vaccination.

This preprint exemplifies normal science because it investigates a specific puzzle within the established paradigm of LLPC-mediated immunity. The central question—why SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies wane despite detectable plasma cells in the bone marrow—arises from the existing paradigm. The research seeks to refine the understanding of LLPC differentiation and persistence in the context of a novel viral challenge, thereby contributing to the existing body of knowledge without challenging the fundamental assumptions of the paradigm. While the findings could potentially lead to a model drift if subsequent research consistently shows a fundamental difference in LLPC establishment after mRNA vaccination compared to other vaccines or natural infections, the current study primarily focuses on gathering data and exploring a specific anomaly within the existing framework. Thus, it does not present a model crisis, revolution, or paradigm shift. The classification as normal science accurately reflects the preprint’s contribution to the field.