SARS-CoV-2 Immunology and Therapeutics

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

We have completed initial studies to determine whether the depletion of the myeloid-biased hematopoietic stem cells that predominate in aged mice would result in repopulation with stem cells balanced in production of both lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Studies in depleted mice have shown rejuvenation of naive T cells and B cells with our strategy. We have also improved the vaccine-induced responses of aged mice significantly. A manuscript describing this work is in preparation. In a collaborative study with Mario Santiago at UC Denver we showed that the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 involves not only mutations in spike protein, but also escape from Type 1 interferon responses. The data revealed increased interferon resistance in SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, suggesting a significant but underappreciated role for innate immunity in driving the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (Guo et al. PNAS 119: (32) e2202760119. 2022). In a collaborative study with Julie Overbaugh at the Fred Hutch, we compared the antibody responses of macaques and humans to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The findings suggest that the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in macaques shares many features with humans, but with substantial differences in the recognition of certain epitopes and considerable individual variability in antibody escape profiles, suggesting a diverse repertoire of antibodies that can respond to major epitopes in both humans and macaques (PLoS Pathogens 18: (4) e1010155 2022).