Detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific immunity in Covid-19 convalescents

Ling Ni, Fang Ye, Meng-Li Cheng, Yu Feng, Yong-Qiang Deng, Hui Zhao, PengWei, Jiwan Ge, Mengting Gou, Xiaoli Li, Lin Sun, Tianshu Cao, Pengzhi Wang, ChaoZhou, Rongrong Zhang, Peng Liang, Han Guo, Xinquan Wang, Cheng-Feng Qin,Fang Chen, Chen Dong
PII:S1074-7613(20)30181-3
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2020.04.023
Reference:IMMUNI 4369
To appear in:Immunity
Received Date:27 March 2020
Revised Date:22 April 2020
Accepted Date:28 April 2020
SUMMARY
The World Health Organization has declared SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak a world-wide pandemic. However, there is very limited understanding on the immune responses, especially adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we collected blood from COVID-19 patients who have recently become virus-free and therefore were  discharged, and detected SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular immunity in 8 newly discharged patients. Follow-up analysis on another cohort of 6 patients 2 weeks post  discharge also revealed high titers of IgG antibodies. In all 14 patients tested, 13 displayed serum neutralizing activities in a pseudotype entry assay. Notably, there was a strong  correlation between neutralization antibody titers and the numbers of virus-specific T cells.  Our work provides a basis for further analysis of protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2, and  understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19, especially in the severe cases. It has also  implications in developing an effective vaccine to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1074-7613%2820%2930181-3