Robust and Functional Immunity up to 9 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a Southeast Asian longitudinal cohort

Assessing the duration of humoral and cellular immunity remains key to overcome the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, especially in understudied populations in least developed countries. Sixty-four Cambodian individuals with laboratory-confirmed infection with asymptomatic or mild/moderate clinical prese...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:bioRxiv 2021-08
Main Authors: Hoa My Thi Vo, Maestri, Alvino, Lay, Sokchea, Sann, Sotheary, Nisa Ya, Ly Sovann, Sopheak, Sorn, Pean, Polidy, Auerswald, Heidi, Schwartz, Olivier, Bruel, Timothee, Seng Heng, Dussart, Philippe, Ly, Sowath, Duong, Veasna, Karlsson, Erik A, Cantaert, Tineke
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asymptomatic
Asymptomatic infection
CD4 antigen
CD8 antigen
Cell-mediated immunity
Convalescence
Humoral immunity
Immune response (humoral)
Immunoglobulin G
Immunological memory
Infections
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes B
Lymphocytes T
Membrane proteins
Memory cells
Nucleocapsids
Pandemics
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Spike protein
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Summary:Assessing the duration of humoral and cellular immunity remains key to overcome the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, especially in understudied populations in least developed countries. Sixty-four Cambodian individuals with laboratory-confirmed infection with asymptomatic or mild/moderate clinical presentation were evaluated for humoral immune response to the viral spike protein and antibody effector functions during acute phase of infection and at 6-9 months follow-up. Antigen-specific B cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were characterized, and T cells were interrogated for functionality at late convalescence. Anti-spike (S) antibody titers decreased over time, but effector functions mediated by S-specific antibodies remained stable. S- and nucleocapsid (N)-specific B cells could be detected in late convalescence in the activated memory B cell compartment and are mostly IgG+. CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immunity was maintained to S and membrane (M) protein. Asymptomatic infection resulted in decreased ADCC and frequency of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells at late convalescence. Whereas anti-S antibodies correlated with S-specific B cells, there was no correlation between T cell response and humoral immunity. Hence, all aspects of a protective immune response are maintained up to nine months after SARS-CoV-2 infection in the absence of re-infection. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.
DOI:10.1101/2021.08.12.455901