Open AccessSARS‐CoV‐2‐specific humoral and cellular immunity persists through 9 months irrespective of COVID‐19 severity at hospitalisation
Author(s) -
Sandberg John Tyler,
Varnaitė Renata,
Christ Wanda,
Chen Puran,
Muvva Jagadeeswara R,
Maleki Kimia T,
García Marina,
Dzidic Majda,
Folkesson Elin,
Skagerberg Magdalena,
Ahlén Gustaf,
Frelin Lars,
Sällberg Matti,
Eriksson Lars I,
Rooyackers Olav,
Sönnerborg Anders,
Buggert Marcus,
Björkström Niklas K,
Aleman Soo,
Strålin Kristoffer,
Klingström Jonas,
Ljunggren HansGustaf,
Blom Kim,
GredmarkRuss Sara
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
clinical and translational immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.321
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2050-0068
DOI - 10.1002/cti2.1306
Subject(s) - convalescence , immunology , humoral immunity , antibody , immune system , cellular immunity , memory b cell , immunity , serology , disease , acquired immune system , flow cytometry , medicine , covid-19 , biology , virology , b cell , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Objectives Humoral and cellular immunity to SARS‐CoV‐2 following COVID‐19 will likely contribute to protection from reinfection or severe disease. It is therefore important to characterise the initiation and persistence of adaptive immunity to SARS‐CoV‐2 amidst the ongoing pandemic. Methods Here, we conducted a longitudinal study on hospitalised moderate and severe COVID‐19 patients from the acute phase of disease into convalescence at 5 and 9 months post‐symptom onset. Utilising flow cytometry, serological assays as well as B cell and T cell FluoroSpot assays, we assessed the magnitude and specificity of humoral and cellular immune responses during and after human SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Results During acute COVID‐19, we observed an increase in germinal centre activity, a substantial expansion of antibody‐secreting cells and the generation of SARS‐CoV‐2‐neutralising antibodies. Despite gradually decreasing antibody levels, we show persistent, neutralising antibody titres as well as robust specific memory B cell responses and polyfunctional T cell responses at 5 and 9 months after symptom onset in both moderate and severe COVID‐19 patients. Conclusion Our findings describe the initiation and, importantly, persistence of cellular and humoral SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific immunological memory in hospitalised COVID‐19 patients long after recovery, likely contributing towards protection against reinfection.