SARS-CoV-2 persistence is associated with antigen-specific CD8 T-cell responses.

Autor:	Vibholm LK; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: linvib@rm.dk., Nielsen SSF; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark., Pahus MH; Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark., Frattari GS; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark., Olesen R; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark., Andersen R; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark., Monrad I; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark., Andersen AHF; Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark., Thomsen MM; Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark., Konrad CV; Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark., Andersen SD; Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark., Højen JF; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark., Gunst JD; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark., Østergaard L; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark., Søgaard OS; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark., Schleimann MH; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark., Tolstrup M; Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	EBioMedicine [EBioMedicine] 2021 Feb; Vol. 64, pp. 103230. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jan 30.
DOI:	10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103230
Abstrakt:	Background: Upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, most individuals develop neutralizing antibodies and T-cell immunity. However, some individuals reportedly remain SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive by pharyngeal swabs weeks after recovery. Whether viral RNA in these persistent carriers is contagious and stimulates SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses is unknown. Methods: This cohort study was conducted between April 3 rd -July 9 th 2020, recruiting COVID-19 recovered individuals that were symptom-free for at least 14 days. We collected serum for SARS-CoV-2-specific total Ig, IgA and IgM detection by ELISA, pharyngeal swabs (two time points) for ddPCR and PBMCs for anti-SARS-CoV-2 CD8 T-cell dextramer analyses. Findings: We enrolled 203 post-symptomatic participants with a previous RT-PCR-verified SARS-CoV-2 infection. At time point 1, a median of 23 days (range 15-44) after recovery, 26 individuals (12⋅8%) were PCR positive. At time point 2, 90 days (median, range 85-105) after recovery, 5 (5⋅3%) were positive. There was no difference in SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels between the PCR negative and positive group. The persistent PCR positive group however, had SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 T-cell responses of significantly increased breadth and magnitude. Assisted contact tracing among persistent PCR positive individuals revealed zero new COVID-19 diagnoses among 757 close contacts. Interpretation: Persistent pharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity in post-symptomatic individuals is associated with elevated cellular immune responses and thus, the viral RNA may represent replicating virus. However, transmission to close contacts was not observed indicating that persistent PCR positive individuals are not contagious at the post-symptomatic stage of the infection. Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no conflict of interest. (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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