Epidemiology, immunology, and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

We are collaborating with leaders of existing longitudinal cohort studies to: 1) Measure how preexisting immunity to endemic human coronaviruses and older SARS-CoV-2 variants modifies future risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease in pediatric and adult populations, and 2) Prospectively track antigenic variation among SARS-CoV-2 variants. Immunity to endemic coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in children in Cebu, Philippines Despite the implementation of control measures, the Philippines continues to have substantial community transmission of SARS-CoV-2. As of July 20, 2021, there have been 1.5 million COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, resulting in 26,844 deaths. The Philippine Food and Drug Administration has issued Emergency Use Authorization to eight COVID-19 vaccines. Mass COVID-19 vaccination officially began in the Philippines on March 1, 2021. As of July 19, 2021, only 9.6% of the Filipino population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. NIAID and University of the Philippines Manila are collaborating to study SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and COVID-19 incidence in children in the Central Visayas Region in the Philippines, a region where numerous variants of concern now circulate but where little is known about the infection and disease risk for SARS-CoV-2. This study is part of an ongoing longitudinal cohort of children 12-17 years of age and residing in Bogo and Balamban participating in the study entitled Effect of baseline dengue serostatus among tetravalent dengue vaccine CYD-TDV (Dengvaxia) recipients on subsequent virologically confirmed dengue in the Philippines. This cohort provides a unique opportunity to interrogate immunity induced by endemic coronaviruses prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (late 2019/early 2020) and follow the same children over the course of the pandemic (2020 and 2021). We are using ELISAs and epidemiological methods to measure serum antibodies to the spike antigens of SARS-CoV-2, OC43, HKU1, 229E, and NL63. In July 2021, prospective RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 among febrile cases in the cohort was initiated. Stored and prospectively collected serum samples will be tested for endemic coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.