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Benede N, Tincho MB, Walters A, Subbiah V, Ngomti A, Baguma R, Butters C, Hahnle L, Mennen M, Skelem S, Adriaanse M, Facey-Thomas H, Scott C, Day J, Spracklen TF, van Graan S, Balla SR, Moyo-Gwete T, Moore PL, MacGinty R, Botha M, Workman L, Johnson M, Goldblatt D, Zar HJ, Ntusi NA, Zühlke L, Webb K, Riou C, Burgers WA, Keeton RS. Distinct T cell polyfunctional profile in SARS-CoV-2 seronegative children associated with endemic human coronavirus cross-reactivity. iScience 2024; 27:108728. [PMID: 38235336 PMCID: PMC10792240 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection in children typically results in asymptomatic or mild disease. There is a paucity of studies on SARS-CoV-2 antiviral immunity in African children. We investigated SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in 71 unvaccinated asymptomatic South African children who were seropositive or seronegative for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cell responses were detectable in 83% of seropositive and 60% of seronegative children. Although the magnitude of the CD4+ T cell response did not differ significantly between the two groups, their functional profiles were distinct, with SARS-CoV-2 seropositive children exhibiting a higher proportion of polyfunctional T cells compared to their seronegative counterparts. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells in seronegative children was associated with the endemic human coronavirus (HCoV) HKU1 IgG response. Overall, the presence of SARS-CoV-2-responding T cells in seronegative children may result from cross-reactivity to endemic coronaviruses and could contribute to the relative protection from disease observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ntombi Benede
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Marius B. Tincho
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Avril Walters
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Vennesa Subbiah
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Amkele Ngomti
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Richard Baguma
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Claire Butters
- Division of Paediatric Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Lina Hahnle
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Mathilda Mennen
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Sango Skelem
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Marguerite Adriaanse
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Heidi Facey-Thomas
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Christiaan Scott
- Division of Paediatric Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Jonathan Day
- Division of Paediatric Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Timothy F. Spracklen
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Cape Heart Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council, Francie Van Zijl Drive, Parow Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Strauss van Graan
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
- SA MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sashkia R. Balla
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
- SA MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Thandeka Moyo-Gwete
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
- SA MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Penny L. Moore
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
- SA MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
| | - Rae MacGinty
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Maresa Botha
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lesley Workman
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marina Johnson
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - David Goldblatt
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Heather J. Zar
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Ntobeko A.B. Ntusi
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa
- Cape Heart Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Liesl Zühlke
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Cape Heart Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council, Francie Van Zijl Drive, Parow Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kate Webb
- Division of Paediatric Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Crick African Network, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Catherine Riou
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Wendy A. Burgers
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Roanne S. Keeton
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
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Benede NSB, Tincho MB, Walters A, Subbiah V, Ngomti A, Baguma R, Butters C, Mennen M, Skelem S, Adriaanse M, van Graan S, Balla SR, Moyo-Gwete T, Moore PL, Botha M, Workman L, Zar HJ, Ntusi NAB, Zühlke L, Webb K, Riou C, Burgers WA, Keeton RS. Distinct T cell functional profiles in SARS-CoV-2 seropositive and seronegative children associated with endemic human coronavirus cross-reactivity. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.05.16.23290059. [PMID: 37292954 PMCID: PMC10246143 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.16.23290059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection in children typically results in asymptomatic or mild disease. There is a paucity of studies on antiviral immunity in African children. We investigated SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in 71 unvaccinated asymptomatic South African children who were seropositive or seronegative for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cell responses were detectable in 83% of seropositive and 60% of seronegative children. Although the magnitude of the CD4+ T cell response did not differ significantly between the two groups, their functional profiles were distinct, with SARS-CoV-2 seropositive children exhibiting a higher proportion of polyfunctional T cells compared to their seronegative counterparts. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells in seronegative children was associated with the endemic human coronavirus (HCoV) HKU1 IgG response. Overall, the presence of SARS-CoV-2-responding T cells in seronegative children may result from cross-reactivity to endemic coronaviruses and could contribute to the relative protection from disease observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ntombi S. B. Benede
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Marius B. Tincho
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Avril Walters
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Vennesa Subbiah
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Amkele Ngomti
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Richard Baguma
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Claire Butters
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Mathilda Mennen
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Sango Skelem
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Marguerite Adriaanse
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Strauss van Graan
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
- MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sashkia R. Balla
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
- MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Thandeka Moyo-Gwete
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
- MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Penny L. Moore
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
- MRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
| | - Maresa Botha
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lesley Workman
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Heather J. Zar
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Ntobeko A. B. Ntusi
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Cape Heart Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Liesl Zühlke
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Cape Heart Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council, Francie Van Zijl Drive, Parow Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kate Webb
- South African Medical Research Council, Francie Van Zijl Drive, Parow Cape Town, South Africa
- Crick African Network, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Riou
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Wendy A. Burgers
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Roanne S. Keeton
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
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