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'One Year Later' - SARS-CoV-2-Specific Immunity in Mild Cases of COVID-19

29 Pages Posted: 15 Jun 2021

See all articles by Pablo Garcia Valtanen

Pablo Garcia Valtanen

University of Adelaide

Christopher M. Hope

University of Adelaide

Makutiro G Masavuli

University of Adelaide

Arthur Yeow

University of Adelaide - Viral Immunology Group

Harikrishnan Balachandran

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Medical Sciences (SoMS)

Zelalem A. Mekonnen

University of Adelaide

Zahraa Al-Delfi

University of Adelaide

Arunasingam Abayasingam

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - Kirby Institute; University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Medical Sciences (SoMS)

David Agapiou

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - Kirby Institute

Jason Gummow

University of Adelaide

Catherine Ferguson

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Stephanie O’Connor

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Erin M. McCartney

Royal Adelaide Hospital

David J Lynn

South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute

Guy Maddern

University of Adelaide

Eric J Gowans

University of Adelaide

Benjamin AJ Reddi

Royal Adelaide Hospital

David Shaw

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Kok-Lim Chuan

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Michael Beard

University of Adelaide

Daniela Weiskopf

La Jolla Institute for Immunology - Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research; La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI) - Division of Vaccine Discovery

Alessandro Sette

La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI) - Division of Vaccine Discovery

Rowena Anne Bull

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - Kirby Institute; University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Medical Sciences (SoMS)

Simon C. Barry

University of Adelaide - Molecular Immunology

Branka Grubor-Bauk

University of Adelaide - Viral Immunology Group

More...

Abstract

Background: Duration and quality of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 have significant implications for the management of COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we present a comprehensive set of immunological data from a cohort of individuals (n=43), 12 months after mild COVID-19 disease and in the absence of virus re-exposure.

Methods: Serum and PBMC were collected from mild-COVID-19 convalescents 12 months after the COVID-19 positive PCR (n=43) and from healthy SARS-CoV-2-seronegative controls (n=15). Serum titers of SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulins were quantified by ELISA and virus neutralisation activity was assessed using SARS-CoV-2-Spike pseudovirus particles. Frequencies of Spike and RBD-specific memory B cells were quantified by flow cytometry. Magnitude of memory T cell responses was quantified and phenotyped with an activation-induced marker assay.

Findings: In the absence of re-exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Spike- and RBD-specific antibodies were present in 90% of COVID-19 convalescents 12 months post-infection. RBD-specific IgG + memory B cells were maintained in 88.9% of patients, while 62% of patients had serum neutralising activity. Functionally mature memory CD4 + and CD8 + T cells were maintained at frequencies previously reported for earlier time points post-COVID-19, indicating substantial maintenance of durable  T cell responses.  

Interpretations: Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 persists for 12 months in mild COVID-19 convalescent patients that retain high Spike-specific antibody titres, virus neutralisation capacity and circulating RBD-specific memory B cells. Significantly, T cell immunity remained stable 12 months post-infection.  This study offers vital information on the duration of natural COVID-19 immunity and its potential protective effect against SARS-CoV-2 reinfection and clinical disease, with clear implications for the ongoing management of the global pandemic.  

Funding Statement: This work was funded by project grants from The Hospital Research Foundation and Women’s and Children’s Foundation, Adelaide, Australia. This work has been supported by NIH contract 75N9301900065 (A.S, D.W).

Declaration of Interests: A.S. is currently a consultant for Gritstone, Flow Pharma, Arcturus, Epitogenesis, Oxfordimmunotech, Caprion and Avalia. LJI has filed for patent protection for various aspects of T cell epitope and vaccine design work.

Authors PGV, CMH, MGM, AELY, HB, ZAM, ZAD, AA, DA, JG, CF, SO, EMM, DJL, GM, EJG, BAJR, DS, CKL, MRB, DW, RAB, SCB and BGB declare no conflict of interest.

Ethics Approval Statement: Study protocols were approved by the Central Adelaide Clinical Human Research Ethics Committee (#13050) and the Women’s and Children’s Health Network Human research ethics (protocol HREC/19/WCHN/65), Adelaide, Australia.

Suggested Citation

Garcia Valtanen, Pablo and Hope, Christopher M. and Masavuli, Makutiro G and Yeow, Arthur Eng Lip and Balachandran, Harikrishnan and Mekonnen, Zelalem A. and Al-Delfi, Zahraa and Abayasingam, Arunasingam and Agapiou, David and Gummow, Jason and Ferguson, Catherine and O’Connor, Stephanie and McCartney, Erin M. and Lynn, David J and Maddern, Guy and Gowans, Eric J and Reddi, Benjamin AJ and Shaw, David and Chuan, Kok-Lim and Beard, Michael and Weiskopf, Daniela and Sette, Alessandro and Bull, Rowena Anne and Barry, Simon C. and Grubor-Bauk, Branka, 'One Year Later' - SARS-CoV-2-Specific Immunity in Mild Cases of COVID-19. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3859298 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3859298

Pablo Garcia Valtanen

University of Adelaide

Christopher M. Hope

University of Adelaide

Makutiro G Masavuli

University of Adelaide

Arthur Eng Lip Yeow

University of Adelaide - Viral Immunology Group ( email )

Adelaide Medical School, FHMS
Adelaide, South Australia 5005
Australia

Harikrishnan Balachandran

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Medical Sciences (SoMS) ( email )

Wallace Wurth Building
Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia

Zelalem A. Mekonnen

University of Adelaide

Zahraa Al-Delfi

University of Adelaide

Arunasingam Abayasingam

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - Kirby Institute ( email )

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Medical Sciences (SoMS) ( email )

Wallace Wurth Building
Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia

David Agapiou

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - Kirby Institute ( email )

Sydney
Australia

Jason Gummow

University of Adelaide

Catherine Ferguson

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Stephanie O’Connor

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Port Rd
Adelaide SA 5000
Australia

Erin M. McCartney

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Port Rd
Adelaide SA 5000
Australia

David J Lynn

South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute

Guy Maddern

University of Adelaide

Eric J Gowans

University of Adelaide

Benjamin AJ Reddi

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Port Rd
Adelaide SA 5000
Australia

David Shaw

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Port Rd
Adelaide SA 5000
Australia

Kok-Lim Chuan

Royal Adelaide Hospital ( email )

Port Rd
Adelaide SA 5000
Australia

Michael Beard

University of Adelaide

Daniela Weiskopf

La Jolla Institute for Immunology - Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research

United States

La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI) - Division of Vaccine Discovery ( email )

La Jolla, CA 92037
United States

Alessandro Sette

La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI) - Division of Vaccine Discovery ( email )

La Jolla, CA 92037
United States

Rowena Anne Bull

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - Kirby Institute ( email )

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Medical Sciences (SoMS) ( email )

Wallace Wurth Building
Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia

Simon C. Barry

University of Adelaide - Molecular Immunology ( email )

Adelaide
Australia

Branka Grubor-Bauk (Contact Author)

University of Adelaide - Viral Immunology Group ( email )

Adelaide Medical School, FHMS
Adelaide, South Australia 5005
Australia

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