Discordant neutralizing antibody and T cell responses in asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Volume
5
DOI
10.1126/sciimmunol.abf3698
Journal
Science Immunology
Issue
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Understanding the nature of immunity following mild/asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2 is crucial to controlling the pandemic. We analyzed T cell and neutralizing antibody responses in 136 healthcare workers (HCW) 16-18 weeks after United Kingdom lockdown, 76 of whom had mild/asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection captured by serial sampling. Neutralizing antibodies (nAb) were present in 89% of previously infected HCW. T cell responses tended to be lower following asymptomatic infection than in those reporting case-definition symptoms of COVID-19, while nAb titers were maintained irrespective of symptoms. T cell and antibody responses were sometimes discordant. Eleven percent lacked nAb and had undetectable T cell responses to spike protein but had T cells reactive with other SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Our findings suggest that the majority of individuals with mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection carry nAb complemented by multispecific T cell responses at 16-18 weeks after mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Authors
Reynolds, CJ; Swadling, L; Gibbons, JM; Pade, C; Jensen, MP; Diniz, MO; Schmidt, NM; Butler, DK; Amin, OE; Bailey, SNLCollections
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