Serologic studies of persons with COVID-19 infection

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is associated with respiratory-related disease and death. Assays to detect virus-specific antibodies are important to understand the prevalence of infection and the course of the immune response. Assays to detect virus-specific T cells are important to appreciate the role of T cell in controlling COVID-19, and HLA-matched virus-specific T cells might be used to treat immunocompromised persons with this disease and to accelerate virus clearance in these persons to reduce shedding and transmission. In FY2021 we collaborated with investigators at Childrens National Hospital, Washington, DC, to show that SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells could be isolated and expanded in vitro from persons previously infected with the SARS-CoV-2. We found that these T cells recognize immunodominant viral epitopes in conserved regions of membrane, spike, and nucleocapsid. After expansion of the T cells in vitro using a good manufacturing practice-compliant methodology, we showed that SARS-CoV-2 membrane, spike, and nucleocapsid peptides elicited interferon-gamma production, in 59%, 26%, and 22% of convalescent donors, respectively. We found multiple CD4-restricted T-cell epitopes that were polyfunctional, i.e. that produced multiple cytokines after stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 peptides, within a highly conserved region of membrane protein, These SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells might be useful for prevention or early treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised patients.