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Preexisting and de novo humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in humans

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journal contribution
posted on 2020-12-11, 13:55 authored by Kevin W Ng, Nikhil Faulkner, Georgina H Cornish, Annachiara Rosa, Ruth Harvey, Saira Hussain, Rachel Ulferts, Christopher Earl, Antoni G Wrobel, Donald J Benton, Chloe Roustan, William Bolland, Rachael Thompson, Ana Agua-Doce, Philip Hobson, Judith Heaney, Hannah Rickman, Stavroula Paraskevopoulou, Catherine F Houlihan, Kirsty Thomson, Emilie Sanchez, Gee Yen Shin, Moira J Spyer, Dhira Joshi, Nicola O'Reilly, Philip A Walker, Svend Kjaer, Andrew Riddell, Catherine Moore, Bethany R Jebson, Meredyth Wilkinson, Lucy R Marshall, Elizabeth C Rosser, Anna Radziszewska, Hannah Peckham, Coziana Ciurtin, Lucy R Wedderburn, Rupert Beale, Charles Swanton, Sonia Gandhi, Brigitta Stockinger, John McCauley, Steve J Gamblin, Laura E Mccoy, Peter Cherepanov, Eleni Nastouli, George Kassiotis
Zoonotic introduction of novel coronaviruses may encounter preexisting immunity in humans. Using diverse assays for antibodies recognizing SARS-CoV-2 proteins, we detect preexisting humoral immunity. SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S)-reactive antibodies were detectable by a flow cytometry-based method in SARS-CoV-2-uninfected individuals and were particularly prevalent in children and adolescents. They were predominantly of the IgG class and targeted the S2 subunit. By contrast, SARS-CoV-2 infection induced higher titers of SARS-CoV-2 S-reactive IgG antibodies, targeting both the S1 and S2 subunits, and concomitant IgM and IgA antibodies, lasting throughout the observation period. Notably, SARS-CoV-2-uninfected donor sera exhibited specific neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-2 S pseudotypes. Distinguishing preexisting and de novo immunity will be critical for our understanding of susceptibility to and the natural course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Funding

Crick (Grant ID: 10030, Grant title: McCauley FC001030) Crick (Grant ID: 10169, Grant title: Swanton FC001169) Crick (Grant ID: 10159, Grant title: Stockinger FC001159) Crick (Grant ID: 10099, Grant title: Kassiotis FC001099) Crick (Grant ID: 10061, Grant title: Cherepanov FC001061) Crick (Grant ID: 10078, Grant title: Gamblin FC001078) Crick (Grant ID: 10013, Grant title: O'Reilly FC001999) Crick (Grant ID: 10006, Grant title: Riddell FC001999) Crick (Grant ID: 10015, Grant title: Walker FC001999) Crick (Grant ID: 10827, Grant title: Beale FC001827)

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