T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike cross-recognize Omicron.
Nature
; 603(7901): 488-492, 2022 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1661968
ABSTRACT
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) has multiple spike protein mutations1,2 that contribute to viral escape from antibody neutralization3-6 and reduce vaccine protection from infection7,8. The extent to which other components of the adaptive response such as T cells may still target Omicron and contribute to protection from severe outcomes is unknown. Here we assessed the ability of T cells to react to Omicron spike protein in participants who were vaccinated with Ad26.CoV2.S or BNT162b2, or unvaccinated convalescent COVID-19 patients (n = 70). Between 70% and 80% of the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response to spike was maintained across study groups. Moreover, the magnitude of Omicron cross-reactive T cells was similar for Beta (B.1.351) and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants, despite Omicron harbouring considerably more mutations. In patients who were hospitalized with Omicron infections (n = 19), there were comparable T cell responses to ancestral spike, nucleocapsid and membrane proteins to those in patients hospitalized in previous waves dominated by the ancestral, Beta or Delta variants (n = 49). Thus, despite extensive mutations and reduced susceptibility to neutralizing antibodies of Omicron, the majority of T cell responses induced by vaccination or infection cross-recognize the variant. It remains to be determined whether well-preserved T cell immunity to Omicron contributes to protection from severe COVID-19 and is linked to early clinical observations from South Africa and elsewhere9-12.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
T-Lymphocytes
/
Cross Reactions
/
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Immunity, Cellular
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Vaccines
/
Variants
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
Nature
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S41586-022-04460-3
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