Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 up to 15 months after infection.
iScience 2022;
25:103743. [PMID:
35018336 PMCID:
PMC8736281 DOI:
10.1016/j.isci.2022.103743]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Information concerning the longevity of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 following natural infection may have considerable implications for durability of immunity induced by vaccines. Here, we monitored the SARS-CoV-2 specific immune response in COVID-19 patients followed up to 15 months after symptoms onset. Following a peak at day 15–28 postinfection, the IgG antibody response and plasma neutralizing titers gradually decreased over time but stabilized after 6 months. Compared to G614, plasma neutralizing titers were more than 8-fold lower against variants Beta, Gamma, and Delta. SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B and T cells persisted in the majority of patients up to 15 months although a significant decrease in specific T cells, but not B cells, was observed between 6 and 15 months. Antiviral specific immunity, especially memory B cells in COVID-19 convalescent patients, is long-lasting, but some variants of concern may at least partially escape the neutralizing activity of plasma antibodies.
Plasma neutralizing antibodies persist in the majority of patients up to 15 months
Neutralizing activity is lower against variants of concern Delta, Beta, and Gamma
Specific memory B and T cells were present in 95% of patients up to 15 months
Specific T cells, but not B cells, were decreased between 6 and 15 months
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