Dynamics of antibodies to SARS‐CoV‐2 in convalescent plasma donors. Issue 5 (16th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Steenhuis, Maurice; van Mierlo, Gerard; Derksen, Ninotska IL; Ooijevaar‐de Heer, Pleuni; Kruithof, Simone; Loeff, Floris L; Berkhout, Lea C; Linty, Federica; Reusken, Chantal; Reimerink, Johan; Hogema, Boris; Zaaijer, Hans; van de Watering, Leo; Swaneveld, Francis; van Gils, Marit J; Bosch, Berend Jan; van Ham, S Marieke; ten Brinke, Anja; Vidarsson, Gestur; van der Schoot, Ellen C; Rispens, Theo
• Is Part Of: Clinical & translational immunology. Volume 10:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-05-16
• Subjects: ACE2‐competitive ELISA -- antibodies -- COVID‐19 -- longitudinal -- neutralisation; Immunologic diseases -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Immune System Diseases -- therapy; Immunotherapy; Immunologic Factors -- therapeutic use; Translational Medical Research; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Clinical medicine; Immunologic diseases; Immunology; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1285
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-0068

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Characterisation of the human antibody response to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is vital for serosurveillance purposes and for treatment options such as transfusion with convalescent plasma or immunoglobulin products derived from convalescent plasma. In this study, we longitudinally and quantitatively analysed antibody responses in RT‐PCR‐positive SARS‐CoV‐2 convalescent adults during the first 250 days after onset of symptoms. Methods: We measured antibody responses to the receptor‐binding domain (RBD) of the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein and the nucleocapsid protein in 844 longitudinal samples from 151 RT‐PCR‐positive SARS‐CoV‐2 convalescent adults. With a median of 5 (range 2–18) samples per individual, this allowed quantitative analysis of individual longitudinal antibody profiles. Kinetic profiles were analysed by mixed‐effects modelling. Results: All donors were seropositive at the first sampling moment, and only one donor seroreverted during follow‐up analysis. Anti‐RBD IgG and anti‐nucleocapsid IgG levels declined with median half‐lives of 62 and 59 days, respectively, 2–5 months after symptom onset, and several‐fold variation in half‐lives of individuals was observed. The rate of decline of antibody levels diminished during extended follow‐up, which points towards long‐term immunological memory. The magnitude of the anti‐RBD IgG response correlated well with neutralisation capacity measured in a classic plaque reduction assay and in an in‐house developed competitive assay. Conclusion: The result of this study gives valuable insight into the long‐term longitudinal response of antibodies to SARS‐CoV‐2. Abstract : By measuring IgG concentrations at many time points per individual (844 samples for 151 subjects), we showed not only that the decline in IgG antibodies to SARS‐CoV‐2 occurs at substantially different rates between individuals, but also that rates of decline of antibody levels diminish as time progresses beyond 6 months, indicative of long‐term memory.