Functional SARS-CoV-2-Specific Immune Memory Persists after Mild COVID-19
- PMID: 33296701
- PMCID: PMC7682481
- DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.029
Functional SARS-CoV-2-Specific Immune Memory Persists after Mild COVID-19
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is causing a global pandemic, and cases continue to rise. Most infected individuals experience mildly symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but it is unknown whether this can induce persistent immune memory that could contribute to immunity. We performed a longitudinal assessment of individuals recovered from mild COVID-19 to determine whether they develop and sustain multifaceted SARS-CoV-2-specific immunological memory. Recovered individuals developed SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulin (IgG) antibodies, neutralizing plasma, and memory B and memory T cells that persisted for at least 3 months. Our data further reveal that SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG memory B cells increased over time. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2-specific memory lymphocytes exhibited characteristics associated with potent antiviral function: memory T cells secreted cytokines and expanded upon antigen re-encounter, whereas memory B cells expressed receptors capable of neutralizing virus when expressed as monoclonal antibodies. Therefore, mild COVID-19 elicits memory lymphocytes that persist and display functional hallmarks of antiviral immunity.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV2; adaptive immune response; human; memory B cell; memory T cell; monoclonal antibody; vaccine.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Declaration of Interests M.P., D.J.R., J.N., C.D.T., Y.C., and L.B.R. have filed a patent under the provisional serial no. 63/063,841. Other authors declare no competing interests.
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Update of
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Functional SARS-CoV-2-specific immune memory persists after mild COVID-19.medRxiv [Preprint]. 2020 Aug 15:2020.08.11.20171843. doi: 10.1101/2020.08.11.20171843. medRxiv. 2020. Update in: Cell. 2021 Jan 7;184(1):169-183.e17. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.029. PMID: 32817957 Free PMC article. Updated. Preprint.
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Functional SARS-CoV-2-specific immune memory persists after mild COVID-19.Res Sq [Preprint]. 2020 Aug 13:rs.3.rs-57112. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-57112/v1. Res Sq. 2020. Update in: Cell. 2021 Jan 7;184(1):169-183.e17. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.029. PMID: 32818218 Free PMC article. Updated. Preprint.
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