Naturally Acquired SARS-CoV-2 Immunity Persists for Up to 11 Months Following Infection. (5th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Giorgi, Valeria; West, Kamille A; Henning, Amanda N; Chen, Leonard N; Holbrook, Michael R; Gross, Robin; Liang, Janie; Postnikova, Elena; Trenbeath, Joni; Pogue, Sarah; Scinto, Tania; Alter, Harvey J; Cantilena, Cathy Conry
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 224:Number 8(2021)
• Page Start: 1294
• Page End: 1304
• Publication Date: 2021-06-05
• Subjects: convalescent plasma -- COVID-19 -- immunological memory -- neutralizing -- serology; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab295
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Characterizing the kinetics of the antibody response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is of critical importance to developing strategies that may mitigate the public health burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted a prospective, longitudinal analysis of COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors at multiple time points over an 11-month period to determine how circulating antibody levels change over time following natural infection. Methods: From April 2020 to February 2021, we enrolled 228 donors. At each study visit, subjects either donated plasma or had study samples drawn only. Anti–SARS-CoV-2 donor testing was performed using the VITROS Anti–SARS-CoV-2 Total and IgG assays and an in-house fluorescence reduction neutralization assay. Results: Anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were identified in 97% of COVID-19 convalescent donors at initial presentation. In follow-up analyses, of 116 donors presenting at repeat time points, 91.4% had detectable IgG levels up to 11 months after symptom recovery, while 63% had detectable neutralizing titers; however, 25% of donors had neutralizing levels that dropped to an undetectable titer over time. Conclusions: Our data suggest that immunological memory is acquired in most individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 and is sustained in a majority of patients for up to 11 months after recovery. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT04360278. Abstract : A longitudinal serological study of 228 convalescent plasma donors showed that immunological memory is acquired in most individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 and is sustained in a majority of patients for up to 11 months after recovery.