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The public is invited to join St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bolton for their Annual Homecoming Eucharist led by Rev. Haily Allin and Deacon Josie Williams with musical offerings by Michael Gibson, Elizabeth Gibson and Sid Champion, organist. (Homecoming was initially scheduled for September, but had to be rescheduled for this month.) When: Sunday, October 17, 4 p.m. Where: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 209 E. Madison Street, Bolton MS 39041 St. Mary’s, one of the oldest Episcopal churches in Hinds County, is located at 209 E. Madison Street in the heart of Bolton. Services are held at 4 p.m. on the second Sunday of most months. For more information, visit www.stmarysbolton.org and follow St. Mary's on Facebook.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, invites the public to the annual Pumpkin Adventure on October 6-9, 13-16 and 20-23. The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with extended hours for family days on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Museum’s Pumpkin Adventure will include a hayride around the museum grounds and Small Town, Miss.; a delicious, complementary snack of cookies and milk; a self-guided tour of the Heritage Center Gallery; a large corn pit to play in; a straw maze for the kids; and a small pumpkin of choice to take home. The General Store will also be open for visitors to shop for souvenirs and enjoy an old-fashioned Coca-Cola in a glass bottle. Concessions will also be available for purchase on Saturdays throughout this event. Admission price for the annual Pumpkin Adventure is $8.00 per person. Children ages two and under will receive free admission. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum’s page on Facebook. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, invites the public to the annual Pumpkin Adventure on October 6-9, 13-16 and 20-23. The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with extended hours for family days on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

New Stage Theatre opens its 56th Season with the hit Broadway Musical Little Shop of Horrors October 5-17, 2021. Curtain times and dates for performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Ticket prices are $35.00 with discounts available for students, senior citizens, military, and groups. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, located inside the Jane Reid Petty Theatre Center, charged by phone by calling the theatre at (601) 948-3533, or ordered online at www.newstagetheatre.com. This production is sponsored by Sanderson Farms. Recommended for ages 12+ for language and innuendo. Feed me! Nerdy floral shop worker Seymour would give anything to gain the love of Audrey. The depth of his desire is tested when a strange and menacing addition to his floral shop brings him sudden and unexpected popularity. Musical hilarity ensues with this delectable Broadway smash hit. Little Shop of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theatre goers for almost forty years, becoming one of the most popular shows worldwide. New Stage Theatre Artistic Director Francine Thomas Reynolds said, “When considering shows to launch the reopening of New Stage after so many months without live theatre, Little Shop of Horrors emerged as the perfect show to kick off our Season 56. The hilarious and quirky story, upbeat doo-wop, rock and Motown music, and loveable characters, deliver the kind of satirical fun and enjoyment audiences might be ready for.” Added Reynolds, “Our creative team, fabulous cast and musicians are excited to be back to live performances and the entire New Stage company is looking forward to welcoming everyone back who feels comfortable returning to live theatre as we Celebrate Our Next Act!” The cast includes: Tyler Bellmon as Seymour (New York), Taylor Galvin as Audrey (New York), Joseph Frost as Mr. Mushnik (Jackson), Sharon Miles as Audrey II (Hattiesburg), and Evan Brechtel as Orin (New York). Additional cast members include Erin Morton, Jaymi Horn, Jayla Lomax, Mandy Kate Myers, Hosea Griffith, Kyle Devin Hunter, and Caleb Henry. Tyler Bellmon and Taylor Galvin appear through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association. FULLY VACCINATED AUDIENCE PERFORMANCES: October 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, & 16, 2021 (Proof of full vaccination and ID will be required; vaccination proof not required at other performances) SOCIAL DISTANCING PERFORMANCE: October 13, 2021 (Call the box office for tickets) PAY WHAT YOU CAN: Patrons can come to the box office beginning at 6:30 on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. If tickets are available they can be purchased at any value with cash, check, or credit card. This is only valid for the October 5 performance. Little Shop of Horrors performances are October 5-17, 2021. Ticket prices are $35.00 with discounts available for students, senior citizens, military, and groups. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, charged by phone by calling the theatre at (601) 948-3533, or ordered online at www.newstagetheatre.com. The theatre is located in the Jane Reid Petty Theatre Center at 1100 Carlisle Street in the Belhaven neighborhood. Where: The Jane Reid Petty Theatre Center, 1100 Carlisle Street, Jackson MS 39202 Dates: Pay What You Can Night: October 5, 2021 Open: October 6, 2021 Close: October 17, 2021 Performance Times: Tuesday thru Saturday: 7:30 pm Sundays: 2:00 pm Fully Vaccinated Audience Performances: October 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, & 16, 2021 (Proof of full vaccination and ID will be required; vaccination proof not required at other performances) Social Distancing Performance: October 13, 2021 (Call the box office for tickets) Tickets: $35; seniors/students/military $30 Box Office: Telephone: 601-948-3533 Online: www.newstagetheatre.com Email: tickets@newstagetheatre.com Hours: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Hours During Show: Tuesday thru Friday: 10 am - 7:30 pm Saturday: 4 pm - 7:30 pm Sunday: 1 pm - 2 pm Tickets Online: Tickets may be purchased 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.newstagetheatre.com (a per-ticket service fee of $3 applies to all online purchases) Rush Tickets: One hour prior to curtain for any performance, students with a current academic ID may purchase an available seat for $10. Limit one ticket per ID. To view public safety protocols please visit www.newstagetheatre.com/covid-19 Director.............Peppy Biddy Music Director..........Carol Joy Sparkman Choreographer...........Malaika Quarterman Stage Manager..........Clara Seitz Scenic Designer..........Dex Edwards Costume Designer..........Virginia Coffey Lighting Designer..........Andrew Prince Sound Designer/Engineer..........Alberto Meza Cast SEYMOUR..........Tyler Bellmon* AUDREY..........Taylor Galvin* MR. MUSHNIK..........Joseph Frost ORIN..........Evan Brechtel AUDREY II..........Sharon Miles CHIFFON..........Erin Morton CRYSTAL..........Jaymi Horn RONNETTE..........Jayla Lomax SKID ROW RESIDENTS: Mandy Kate Myers Hosea Griffith Kyle Devin Hunter Caleb Henry UNDERSTUDIES: Ward Emling Sam Lovorn Natalie Fehrenbacher Mandy Kate Myers

On Tuesday, November 2nd, voters in Hinds County will go to the polls to elect a new Sheriff to serve the time remaining in the term of Sheriff Lee Vance, who passed away in August. A Sample Ballot for the "Bolton" precinct of Hinds County, is below. It was obtained from HindsCountyMS.com Absentee voting is going on now. Absentee balloting begins 45 days prior to an election and ends at noon on the Saturday preceding the election. The Hinds County Circuit Clerk’s offices in Raymond and Jackson will be open for in-person absentee voting during their normal office hours on weekdays (Mon.-Friday) and from 8 a.m. until noon on two Saturdays prior to the election: October 23 and October 30, 2021. To find out if you qualify for absentee voting or to request that an absentee ballot be sent to you by mail, contact the Hinds County Circuit Clerk's office: 601.968.6628. If you will vote in person on November 2nd, polling places will be open from 7 am to 7 pm. Be sure to bring your photo ID. Voters with an address located in the "Bolton" precinct of Hinds County will vote at the Volunteer Fire Station at 117 W. Madison Street in Bolton. Voters with an address in the "Brownsville" precinct of Hinds County will vote at the Volunteer Fire Station at 8057 Bolton Brownsville Road. Find your polling place using the Polling Place Locator tool on the Mississippi Secretary of State website: https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/polling-place-locator

“I am excited to welcome everyone to the 162nd Mississippi State Fair,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson in Jackson on Wednesday. “The State Fair is a tradition for many families, and we have several new attractions we’re excited to introduce to the public this year.” The Mississippi State Fair runs Wednesday, October 6, through Sunday, October 17, with a gate admission price of $5.00 per person and parking fee of $5.00 per car. Children aged 6 and under will be admitted free of charge. Enjoy free admission every weekday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., with the exception of Monday, October 11. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS TO NOTE: Mississippi Heroes Night will be held on Wednesday, October 6, and as a special thank you, the Mississippi Fairgrounds will be offering free admission to all law enforcement officers, first responders, firefighters, healthcare workers, medical professionals and active military personnel. Identification will be required at the gate. For the first time ever, a portion of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds will be transformed into the Mississippi Frontier Village. This new attraction will feature blacksmiths, train rides, pig races, pony rides, shows, entertainment, a petting zoo and exhibits. Located at the west end of the Midway near the Kid Zone, the Mississippi Frontier Village is an attraction you do not want to miss! This year, the Mississippi State Fair will host a Firefighter Combat Challenge, a relay simulating the essential skills of firefighting. Individuals and teams will start at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 14, and the tandems and relays will start at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 15. All firefighters are welcome to compete; visit www.firefighterchallenge.com to apply for entry. The Ag Expo, presented by Farm Bureau, will be held inside the Mississippi Trade Mart, and will be open to the public each day of the fair. Enjoy the crowd favorite Genuine MS® Store; an antique and classic car show; vendors from across the nation selling unique products and services; food preservation exhibits; arts and crafts; and other educational showcases of Mississippi agriculture. Musical acts performing on the Budweiser Stage located on the Midway include Smashmouth, Ginuwine, Riley Green, the Bar-Kays, Kayla Berry and the Mississippi Mass Choir. In addition, local acts will perform at the State Fair on the Trustmark Stage located on the Midway. All musical entertainment is free with regular fair admission. The 2021 State Fair will include the annual Horse, Mule and Pony Pulls in the Kirk Fordice Equine Center. The Pony Pull will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 15. The Horse Pull will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 16, with the Mule Pull immediately following. The additional Mule Jump will take place between the Horse and Mule Pulls. Senior American Day will be held on Wednesday, October 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and will include musical entertainment by Bill Clark of Brandon, Leah Curry-Williams of Jackson and the William Carey Commissioners of Hattiesburg, as well as a speech by Commissioner Andy Gipson. Flu and Pneumonia vaccines will be offered and administered by Walmart, while supplies last. This year, the Mississippi State Fair is adding a ProRodeo Xtreme Bull Riding Fall Nationals tournament and Tri-State Rodeo in the Kirk Fordice Equine Center. The bull riding competition, part of the Xtreme Bulls Tour, will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 9. Tickets to bull riding can be purchased in advance at the Coliseum Box Office or online at www.Ticketmaster.com; prices start at $25.00. Those purchasing advance tickets will receive free fair admission. The rodeo will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 10. General admission to the rodeo will be $10.00 per person; tickets can only be purchased at the door, and do not include fair admission. In addition to the longtime tradition of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s famous Biscuit Booth, this year will include a Homemade Biscuit Eating Contest. The contest will be held at the Trustmark Stage on Saturday, October 9, at 12:00 p.m. The public can register for the contest on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds’ Facebook page. Daily activities will take place throughout the 105 acres of the Mississippi Fairgrounds Complex. Children, and adults alike, will enjoy the Farm Bureau Petting Zoo Area and Pig Races, the 4-H and FFA Livestock Shows and will be wowed by performers of the Zerbini Family Circus. Several other vendors, exhibits and attractions will be available to the public, including a Stock Dog Trial, West Texas Rattlesnake Show, the Mystic Wind Choctaw Dancers and more.

Do you watch home remodeling shows and wonder where they find the unique pieces they put in the homes they remodel or do you have a Pinterest board filled with ideas for your home? Vintage Market Days® brings all of that to you! With numerous of the best vendors in Vintage from across the US – they bring truckloads of repurposed, specialty “finds” that will be unique to your home! Vintage Market Days® of Mississippi owners Chris, Jana and Betty Fuss are pleased to announce the Jackson area Vintage Market Days event “All is Bright” will be held at the new Mississippi Trade Mart at 1200 Mississippi Street in Jackson. The three-day event will take place October 22 - 24. Vintage Market Days® co-owner Jana Fuss is excited to bring the Vintage experience to the Metro Jackson area. “Vintage Market Days is more than a show” said Jana. “We love adding special touches to make it a special family friendly Vintage event.” We have been receiving great response from vendors and the community. The Vintage Market Days® vendors are some of the best in the country. Vintage Market Days® also has the opportunity to give back at each event. We are honored to partner with the Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi, a powerful association of men, women and children committed to bringing about lasting personal and social change. With a focus on nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the nation’s health and well-being and providing opportunities to give back and support neighbors, the Y enables youth, adults, families and communities to be healthy, confident, connected and secure. “We are excited to help support the local area, specifically the YMCA’s feeding program,” Fuss added. The event will follow all state and city COVID guidelines that may be in effect at that time. Tickets can be purchased at the door (Fri - $15 and Sat/Sun $10) or in advance at https://VintageMarketDays.com/market/mississippi/tickets. Free re-admission all weekend. Children age 12 and under are free. About Vintage Market Days® Vintage Market Days® is an upscale vintage and vintage-inspired indoor/outdoor market featuring original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, architectural salvage, handmade treasures, home decor, outdoor furnishings, consumable yummies, seasonal plantings and a little more. Vintage Market Days® is a franchised Vintage event that began in Tulsa, OK in 2012. It has grown to 70 markets and/or 150 events a year across the US. For more information, please visit vintagemarketdays.com, facebook.com/vintagemarketdays or email mississippi@vintagemarketdays.com. Vintage Market Days® is a registered trademark of Vintage Market Days®, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner.

The October 5th issue of The Bolton News community newspaper is available in print, inside The Clinton Courier, and a special extended edition is available online! To read the extended online edition, click here. Beginning on Wednesday, print copies of The Bolton News inside The Clinton Courier will be available to pick up for free (while they last) in newsstands at these locations in Bolton: Bolton Chevron Gaddis & McLaurin Annie T. Jeffers Public Library L & K Grocery Bolton Town Hall It is also available at 8 locations in Raymond and more than 100 locations in Clinton. Home Delivery: You have the option to get the paper delivered to your home or business mailing address for only $24 per year with a Hinds County address, or outside Hinds County: for just $30 per year. That is for 24 issues delivered to your mailing address. To order home delivery: Subscribe to Home Delivery For even more Bolton news and information, visit www.BoltonMS.com. Posts are made daily. To share press releases, photos and story ideas, or to advertise in The Bolton News, contact Susalyn Bennett, 601.594.2250, susalyn@theclintoncourier.net. Archives: Past issues of the paper are available online: www.boltonms.com/archives

Following their district win against the Wingfield High Falcons on October 1st, the RHS Rangers Football team now boasts a record of 5 and 1 overall on the season, with their only loss being a 35-34 tear-jerker loss to Philadelphia back on September 3rd (a non-district game). They will face the Lanier High School Bulldogs on Friday October 8, 2021 and hope to extend their winning streak to five in a row. Regular season games remaining: October 8 Lanier October 15 South Pike October 22 North Pike October 29 McComb All four remaining games are district games. RHS is in Class 4A, Region 6. Currently in first place in 4A, 6 is North Pike; second place, Raymond; third place, McComb. The Rangers will battle it out with North Pike on October 22 and on October 29, they play McComb. Trent Singleton was able to rejoin the action on October 1st. He's been sidelined with an MCL injury he suffered during the September 3rd match-up with Philadelphia. All photos are courtesy of Ginny Price, Ginny Barlow Price Photography. Raymond High School draws students from Bolton MS as well as Edwards, Learned, Raymond and Utica, MS.

Adjacent to a large cornfield in Bolton, Mississippi, a rig toils quietly, pulling oil from the earth. It is one of a few rigs still in operation in Bolton. At one time, there were more than a dozen rigs in town. On a recent August day, Clinton artist Wyatt Waters braved the summer heat and a few fire ants to paint the scene. The painting he calls 'Tanks a Lot' is just one of more than 7,000 that he has created over the years. Waters lives with his wife, Kristi, in a restored home in Clinton’s historic Olde Towne District, not far from Lion’s Club Park. The 66-year-old artist is considered a master of watercolor. His paintings have been featured in numerous exhibitions, prestigious art magazines, books and on television, and the awards he has received include the Mississippi Governor’s Award for Artistic Excellence. From an early age, Waters knew that he had a strong desire to paint, that watercolor was his favorite medium, and that he prefers being outdoors in the physical presence of what he is painting. “When I’m sitting on the side of the road painting, many people are confused by that. They can’t understand why I choose to do it that way. And I won’t lie. It is hard to do it this way. When I am out there in the heat, or the cold, in the rain… with the dust and the ants… all of what I am experiencing - the scents and sounds and all of it - goes into the painting. I don’t know how to explain it, but it makes the paintings better.” “On the good paintings, there’s conflict,” continues Waters. “As I paint, I am fighting with all these elements and trying to find the resolution. Conflict makes the painting better.” When asked how he selects what to paint, Waters said, “I ride around a lot, looking for something to paint. I always say, it’s easier to make a choice on a quarter of a tank. When I’m down to a quarter tank, it forces me to make a choice. I have been to Bolton to paint many times, and, on that day in August, the rig was what ‘spoke to me’ that day.” The oil rig in Waters’ painting sits on land owned by Gaddis Farms. Mr. Ted H. Kendall, III, CEO of Gaddis Farms, is a fourth-generation descendant of J. L. Gaddis, Sr., who came to Bolton in the 1870s. The family-owned businesses include Gaddis Farms, “The Store” (Gaddis & McLaurin) and Gaddis Gin. “I was just eighteen years old when oil was discovered in Bolton,” said Kendall. “That was in 1954. It was a pretty big deal for the town. Oil was selling for about $3 a barrel back then. The first well went up on the Mashburns’ place on the south side of the railroad tracks. Several more followed over time. The oil that has been found in the past sixty-plus years - and even until this day - has all been located in the original Bolton Oil Field. Numerous searches have been conducted, attempting to find oil in the surrounding areas, but none was ever found.” The Waters are working on a new book that has had them exploring various parts of the U.S., with Wyatt painting new works for the book as they go. They anticipate having the content ready to submit to their publisher next spring, and the book is expected to be published around November, 2022. “Our camper is a 16-foot Casita that we pull behind our Ford Expedition,” said Waters. “Next up, is a trip to the mountains to paint fall colors.” Waters has been busy autographing his new calendar for 2022, titled Catch 2022 and featuring thirteen images of recent, unpublished paintings, printed on textured paper and signed by Waters. An avid musician, Waters admitted that he’s currently playing “just enough to keep his callouses,” but recording a new CD is not out of the realm of possibility. “It is an itch you’ve got to scratch, when it hits you.” The Wyatt Waters Gallery is located at 307 Jefferson Street in Clinton. For more information about Wyatt Waters, visit www.wyattwaters.com.

On September 30th United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson, representing Mississippi's second congressional district, announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration has awarded grant funds to the following: Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Mississippi Public Service Commission $371,838 has been awarded to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP). Grants funds can be used towards activities such as: developing or revising emergency plans and training activities to account for bulk transportation of energy products by rail and over the road; conducting commodity flow studies to determine the frequency and quantity of hazmat shipments being transported through local communities; and training emergency responders to respond appropriately to incidents involving bulk shipments of energy products as well as other hazmat. $318,297 and $18,156 have been awarded to the Mississippi Public Service Commission under PHMSA and One Call Grants. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration’s (PHMSA) State Base Grants program supports State pipeline safety programs by reimbursing them a portion of each State's total program expenses for a given calendar year based on their performance. One Call Grants enhance public safety, protect the environment, minimize risks to excavators, and prevent disruption of vital public services by reducing the incidence of excavation damage to underground facilities. The Congressman’s Bolton office is located at 107 West Madison Street, Bolton, MS 39041. Telephone: (601) 866-9003. US Representative Bennie G. Thompson Bolton MS: 107 West Madison Street Bolton, MS 39041 (601) 866-9003 (601) 866-9036 (Fax) Washington DC: 2466 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5876 (202) 225-5898 (Fax)

Wills for Magnolia State First Responders is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that brings together volunteer Attorneys and Paralegals to prepare estate planning documents for First Responders and their Spouses FREE of charge. Their next event will be held Saturday, October 23, 2021, at MS Sports Hall of Fame and Museum located at 1152 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS 39216, from 10:00am – 3:00pm. Appointments are necessary and space is limited! The deadline to schedule an appointment is October 15, 2021. To sign up, First Responders will need to contact Kristy Hogan at info@wffrms.com or (601) 519-0334. SIGN-UP – All First Responders and their Spouses MUST sign up for a time slot to participate and fill out an initial questionnaire. To sign up please contact Kristy Hogan at info@wffrms.com or (601) 519-0334. THE EVENT – First Responders and their Spouses will check in at their allotted time where they will meet with a Paralegal to go over their initial questionnaire. Documents will then be drafted onsite by a Paralegal and reviewed by an Attorney. The Attorney will then meet with each First Responder and Spouse privately to go over their documents. All documents are signed and notarized onsite. Each First Responder and Spouse will receive their original documents. NO COPIES ARE RETAINED BY WFFRMS. These documents include: Basic Will – A basic Will allows you to designate how you want your assets distributed, to name an Executor who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes, and to designate a guardian(s) for your minor children (if applicable). These basic Wills do not provide a trust for minor children or other heirs. Advanced Healthcare Directive – An Advanced Healthcare Directive allows you to designate an individual to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event you are unable. It may also document your wish to direct medical treatment in more specific ways, such as your choice regarding which life sustaining treatments be withheld/withdrawn in the event you are unable to make your own medical decisions. This service is provided to all First Responders and their Spouses completely FREE OF​ ​CHARGE. For additional information, including upcoming event dates, times, and locations please​ ​contact Kristy Hogan at info@wffrms.com or (601) 519-0334.

Delta Health Alliance is proud to tell the story of THE MISSISSIPPI MASS CHOIR and their decision (as an entire group) to get vaccinated. Thank you all for what you do for our state. How Immunity Generated from COVID-19 Vaccines Differs from an Infection Repost of the NIH Directors Blog Posted on June 22nd, 2021 by Dr. Francis Collins • Jul 06, 2021: A key issue as we move closer to ending the pandemic is determining more precisely how long people exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus, will make neutralizing antibodies against this dangerous coronavirus. Finding the answer is also potentially complicated with new SARS-CoV-2 “variants of concern” appearing around the world that could find ways to evade acquired immunity, increasing the chances of new outbreaks. Now, a new NIH-supported study shows that the answer to this question will vary based on how an individual’s antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were generated: over the course of a naturally acquired infection or from a COVID-19 vaccine. The new evidence shows that protective antibodies generated in response to an mRNA vaccine will target a broader range of SARS-CoV-2 variants carrying “single letter” changes in a key portion of their spike protein compared to antibodies acquired from an infection. These results add to evidence that people with acquired immunity may have differing levels of protection to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. More importantly, the data provide further documentation that those who’ve had and recovered from a COVID-19 infection still stand to benefit from getting vaccinated. These latest findings come from Jesse Bloom, Allison Greaney, and their team at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle. In an earlier study, this same team focused on the receptor binding domain (RBD), a key region of the spike protein that studs SARS-CoV-2’s outer surface. This RBD is especially important because the virus uses this part of its spike protein to anchor to another protein called ACE2 on human cells before infecting them. That makes RBD a prime target for both naturally acquired antibodies and those generated by vaccines. Using a method called deep mutational scanning, the Seattle group’s previous study mapped out all possible mutations in the RBD that would change the ability of the virus to bind ACE2 and/or for RBD-directed antibodies to strike their targets. In their new study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, Bloom, Greaney, and colleagues looked again to the thousands of possible RBD variants to understand how antibodies might be expected to hit their targets there [1]. This time, they wanted to explore any differences between RBD-directed antibodies based on how they were acquired. Again, they turned to deep mutational scanning. First, they created libraries of all 3,800 possible RBD single amino acid mutants and exposed the libraries to samples taken from vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated individuals who’d been previously infected. All vaccinated individuals had received two doses of the Moderna mRNA vaccine. This vaccine works by prompting a person’s cells to produce the spike protein, thereby launching an immune response and the production of antibodies. By closely examining the results, the researchers uncovered important differences between acquired immunity in people who’d been vaccinated and unvaccinated people who’d been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, antibodies elicited by the mRNA vaccine were more focused to the RBD compared to antibodies elicited by an infection, which more often targeted other portions of the spike protein. Importantly, the vaccine-elicited antibodies targeted a broader range of places on the RBD than those elicited by natural infection. These findings suggest that natural immunity and vaccine-generated immunity to SARS-CoV-2 will differ in how they recognize new viral variants. What’s more, antibodies acquired with the help of a vaccine may be more likely to target new SARS-CoV-2 variants potently, even when the variants carry new mutations in the RBD. It’s not entirely clear why these differences in vaccine- and infection-elicited antibody responses exist. In both cases, RBD-directed antibodies are acquired from the immune system’s recognition and response to viral spike proteins. The Seattle team suggests these differences may arise because the vaccine presents the viral protein in slightly different conformations. Also, it’s possible that mRNA delivery may change the way antigens are presented to the immune system, leading to differences in the antibodies that get produced. A third difference is that natural infection only exposes the body to the virus in the respiratory tract (unless the illness is very severe), while the vaccine is delivered to muscle, where the immune system may have an even better chance of seeing it and responding vigorously. Whatever the underlying reasons turn out to be, it’s important to consider that humans are routinely infected and re-infected with other common coronaviruses, which are responsible for the common cold. It’s not at all unusual to catch a cold from seasonal coronaviruses year after year. That’s at least in part because those viruses tend to evolve to escape acquired immunity, much as SARS-CoV-2 is now in the process of doing. The good news so far is that, unlike the situation for the common cold, we have now developed multiple COVID-19 vaccines. The evidence continues to suggest that acquired immunity from vaccines still offers substantial protection against the new variants now circulating around the globe. The hope is that acquired immunity from the vaccines will indeed produce long-lasting protection against SARS-CoV-2 and bring an end to the pandemic. These new findings point encouragingly in that direction. They also serve as an important reminder to roll up your sleeve for the vaccine if you haven’t already done so, whether or not you’ve had COVID-19. Our best hope of winning this contest with the virus is to get as many people immunized now as possible. That will save lives, and reduce the likelihood of even more variants appearing that might evade protection from the current vaccines. Reference: [1] Antibodies elicited by mRNA-1273 vaccination bind more broadly to the receptor binding domain than do those from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Greaney AJ, Loes AN, Gentles LE, Crawford KHD, Starr TN, Malone KD, Chu HY, Bloom JD. Sci Transl Med. 2021 Jun 8. Click to view the original post. https://directorsblog.nih.gov/tag/covid-19-vaccine/