Dynamics of Neutralizing Antibody Titers in the Months After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection. (30th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crawford, Katharine H D; Dingens, Adam S; Eguia, Rachel; Wolf, Caitlin R; Wilcox, Naomi; Logue, Jennifer K; Shuey, Kiel; Casto, Amanda M; Fiala, Brooke; Wrenn, Samuel; Pettie, Deleah; King, Neil P; Greninger, Alexander L; Chu, Helen Y; Bloom, Jesse D
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 223:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 197
• Page End: 205
• Publication Date: 2020-09-30
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 -- spike -- RBD -- COVID-19 -- neutralizing antibodies -- antibody dynamics; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa618
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Most individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) develop neutralizing antibodies that target the viral spike protein. In this study, we quantified how levels of these antibodies change in the months after SARS-CoV-2 infection by examining longitudinal samples collected approximately 30–152 days after symptom onset from a prospective cohort of 32 recovered individuals with asymptomatic, mild, or moderate-severe disease. Neutralizing antibody titers declined an average of about 4-fold from 1 to 4 months after symptom onset. This decline in neutralizing antibody titers was accompanied by a decline in total antibodies capable of binding the viral spike protein or its receptor-binding domain. Importantly, our data are consistent with the expected early immune response to viral infection, where an initial peak in antibody levels is followed by a decline to a lower plateau. Additional studies of long-lived B cells and antibody titers over longer time frames are necessary to determine the durability of immunity to SARS-CoV-2. Abstract : After severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, neutralizing antibody titers peak about 1 month after symptom onset, then decline about 4-fold over the next 2–3 months, with dynamics typical of immune responses to other respiratory viruses.