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Borrega R, Nelson DKS, Koval AP, Bond NG, Heinrich ML, Rowland MM, Lathigra R, Bush DJ, Aimukanova I, Phinney WN, Koval SA, Hoffmann AR, Smither AR, Bell-Kareem AR, Melnik LI, Genemaras KJ, Chao K, Snarski P, Melton AB, Harrell JE, Smira AA, Elliott DH, Rouelle JA, Sabino-Santos G, Drouin AC, Momoh M, Sandi JD, Goba A, Samuels RJ, Kanneh L, Gbakie M, Branco ZL, Shaffer JG, Schieffelin JS, Robinson JE, Fusco DN, Sabeti PC, Andersen KG, Grant DS, Boisen ML, Branco LM, Garry RF. Cross-Reactive Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV in Pre-COVID-19 Blood Samples from Sierra Leoneans. Viruses 2021; 13:2325. [PMID: 34835131 PMCID: PMC8625389 DOI: 10.3390/v13112325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced lower COVID-19 caseloads and fewer deaths than countries in other regions worldwide. Under-reporting of cases and a younger population could partly account for these differences, but pre-existing immunity to coronaviruses is another potential factor. Blood samples from Sierra Leonean Lassa fever and Ebola survivors and their contacts collected before the first reported COVID-19 cases were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the presence of antibodies binding to proteins of coronaviruses that infect humans. Results were compared to COVID-19 subjects and healthy blood donors from the United States. Prior to the pandemic, Sierra Leoneans had more frequent exposures than Americans to coronaviruses with epitopes that cross-react with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), SARS-CoV, and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The percentage of Sierra Leoneans with antibodies reacting to seasonal coronaviruses was also higher than for American blood donors. Serological responses to coronaviruses by Sierra Leoneans did not differ by age or sex. Approximately a quarter of Sierra Leonian pre-pandemic blood samples had neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, while about a third neutralized MERS-CoV pseudovirus. Prior exposures to coronaviruses that induce cross-protective immunity may contribute to reduced COVID-19 cases and deaths in Sierra Leone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Borrega
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Germantown, MD 20876, USA; (R.B.); (A.P.K.); (M.L.H.); (M.M.R.); (R.L.); (S.A.K.); (Z.L.B.)
| | - Diana K. S. Nelson
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Broomfield, CO 80045, USA; (D.K.S.N.); (D.J.B.); (I.A.); (W.N.P.)
| | - Anatoliy P. Koval
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Germantown, MD 20876, USA; (R.B.); (A.P.K.); (M.L.H.); (M.M.R.); (R.L.); (S.A.K.); (Z.L.B.)
| | - Nell G. Bond
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (N.G.B.); (A.R.H.); (A.R.S.); (A.R.B.-K.); (L.I.M.); (K.J.G.); (K.C.); (J.E.H.)
| | - Megan L. Heinrich
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Germantown, MD 20876, USA; (R.B.); (A.P.K.); (M.L.H.); (M.M.R.); (R.L.); (S.A.K.); (Z.L.B.)
| | - Megan M. Rowland
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Germantown, MD 20876, USA; (R.B.); (A.P.K.); (M.L.H.); (M.M.R.); (R.L.); (S.A.K.); (Z.L.B.)
| | - Raju Lathigra
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Germantown, MD 20876, USA; (R.B.); (A.P.K.); (M.L.H.); (M.M.R.); (R.L.); (S.A.K.); (Z.L.B.)
| | - Duane J. Bush
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Broomfield, CO 80045, USA; (D.K.S.N.); (D.J.B.); (I.A.); (W.N.P.)
| | - Irina Aimukanova
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Broomfield, CO 80045, USA; (D.K.S.N.); (D.J.B.); (I.A.); (W.N.P.)
| | - Whitney N. Phinney
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Broomfield, CO 80045, USA; (D.K.S.N.); (D.J.B.); (I.A.); (W.N.P.)
| | - Sophia A. Koval
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Germantown, MD 20876, USA; (R.B.); (A.P.K.); (M.L.H.); (M.M.R.); (R.L.); (S.A.K.); (Z.L.B.)
| | - Andrew R. Hoffmann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (N.G.B.); (A.R.H.); (A.R.S.); (A.R.B.-K.); (L.I.M.); (K.J.G.); (K.C.); (J.E.H.)
| | - Allison R. Smither
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (N.G.B.); (A.R.H.); (A.R.S.); (A.R.B.-K.); (L.I.M.); (K.J.G.); (K.C.); (J.E.H.)
| | - Antoinette R. Bell-Kareem
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (N.G.B.); (A.R.H.); (A.R.S.); (A.R.B.-K.); (L.I.M.); (K.J.G.); (K.C.); (J.E.H.)
| | - Lilia I. Melnik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (N.G.B.); (A.R.H.); (A.R.S.); (A.R.B.-K.); (L.I.M.); (K.J.G.); (K.C.); (J.E.H.)
| | - Kaylynn J. Genemaras
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (N.G.B.); (A.R.H.); (A.R.S.); (A.R.B.-K.); (L.I.M.); (K.J.G.); (K.C.); (J.E.H.)
- Bioinnovation Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Karissa Chao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (N.G.B.); (A.R.H.); (A.R.S.); (A.R.B.-K.); (L.I.M.); (K.J.G.); (K.C.); (J.E.H.)
- Bioinnovation Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Patricia Snarski
- Heart and Vascular Institute, John W. Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Alexandra B. Melton
- Department of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA;
| | - Jaikin E. Harrell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (N.G.B.); (A.R.H.); (A.R.S.); (A.R.B.-K.); (L.I.M.); (K.J.G.); (K.C.); (J.E.H.)
| | - Ashley A. Smira
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.A.S.); (D.H.E.); (J.A.R.); (J.S.S.); (J.E.R.)
| | - Debra H. Elliott
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.A.S.); (D.H.E.); (J.A.R.); (J.S.S.); (J.E.R.)
| | - Julie A. Rouelle
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.A.S.); (D.H.E.); (J.A.R.); (J.S.S.); (J.E.R.)
| | - Gilberto Sabino-Santos
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
- Centre for Virology Research, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Arnaud C. Drouin
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.C.D.); (D.N.F.)
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Eastern Polytechnic Institute, Kenema, Sierra Leone;
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone; (J.D.S.); (A.G.); (R.J.S.); (L.K.); (M.G.)
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - John Demby Sandi
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone; (J.D.S.); (A.G.); (R.J.S.); (L.K.); (M.G.)
| | - Augustine Goba
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone; (J.D.S.); (A.G.); (R.J.S.); (L.K.); (M.G.)
| | - Robert J. Samuels
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone; (J.D.S.); (A.G.); (R.J.S.); (L.K.); (M.G.)
| | - Lansana Kanneh
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone; (J.D.S.); (A.G.); (R.J.S.); (L.K.); (M.G.)
| | - Michael Gbakie
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone; (J.D.S.); (A.G.); (R.J.S.); (L.K.); (M.G.)
| | - Zoe L. Branco
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Germantown, MD 20876, USA; (R.B.); (A.P.K.); (M.L.H.); (M.M.R.); (R.L.); (S.A.K.); (Z.L.B.)
| | - Jeffrey G. Shaffer
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
| | - John S. Schieffelin
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.A.S.); (D.H.E.); (J.A.R.); (J.S.S.); (J.E.R.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - James E. Robinson
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.A.S.); (D.H.E.); (J.A.R.); (J.S.S.); (J.E.R.)
| | - Dahlene N. Fusco
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (A.C.D.); (D.N.F.)
| | - Pardis C. Sabeti
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA;
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kristian G. Andersen
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
- Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Donald S. Grant
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone; (J.D.S.); (A.G.); (R.J.S.); (L.K.); (M.G.)
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Matthew L. Boisen
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Broomfield, CO 80045, USA; (D.K.S.N.); (D.J.B.); (I.A.); (W.N.P.)
| | - Luis M. Branco
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Germantown, MD 20876, USA; (R.B.); (A.P.K.); (M.L.H.); (M.M.R.); (R.L.); (S.A.K.); (Z.L.B.)
| | - Robert F. Garry
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Germantown, MD 20876, USA; (R.B.); (A.P.K.); (M.L.H.); (M.M.R.); (R.L.); (S.A.K.); (Z.L.B.)
- Zalgen Labs, LCC, Broomfield, CO 80045, USA; (D.K.S.N.); (D.J.B.); (I.A.); (W.N.P.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (N.G.B.); (A.R.H.); (A.R.S.); (A.R.B.-K.); (L.I.M.); (K.J.G.); (K.C.); (J.E.H.)
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