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Pre-pandemic SARS-CoV-2-specific IFN-γ and antibody responses were low in Ugandan samples and significantly reduced in HIV-positive specimens.
Nantambi, Hellen; Sembera, Jackson; Ankunda, Violet; Ssali, Ivan; Kalyebi, Arthur Watelo; Oluka, Gerald Kevin; Kato, Laban; Ubaldo, Bahemuka; Kibengo, Freddie; Katende, Joseph Ssebwana; Gombe, Ben; Baine, Claire; Odoch, Geoffrey; Mugaba, Susan; Sande, Obondo James; Kaleebu, Pontiano; Serwanga, Jennifer.
  • Nantambi H; Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Sembera J; Department of Immunology, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Ankunda V; Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Ssali I; Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Kalyebi AW; Department of Immunology, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Oluka GK; Department of Immunology, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Kato L; Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Ubaldo B; Department of Immunology, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Kibengo F; Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Katende JS; Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Gombe B; Department of Immunology, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Baine C; Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Odoch G; Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Mugaba S; Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Sande OJ; Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Kaleebu P; Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
  • Serwanga J; Department of Immunology, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
Front Immunol ; 14: 1148877, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2317568
ABSTRACT

Introduction:

We investigated whether prior SARS-CoV-2-specific IFN-γ and antibody responses in Ugandan COVID-19 pre-pandemic specimens aligned to this population's low disease severity.

Methods:

We used nucleoprotein (N), spike (S), NTD, RBD, envelope, membrane, SD1/2-directed IFN-γ ELISpots, and an S- and N-IgG antibody ELISA to screen for SARS-CoV-2-specific cross-reactivity.

Results:

HCoV-OC43-, HCoV-229E-, and SARS-CoV-2-specific IFN-γ occurred in 23, 15, and 17 of 104 specimens, respectively. Cross-reactive IgG was more common against the nucleoprotein (7/110, 15.5%; p = 0.0016, Fishers' Exact) than the spike (3/110, 2.72%). Specimens lacking anti-HuCoV antibodies had higher rates of pre-epidemic SARS-CoV-2-specific IFN-γ cross-reactivity (p-value = 0.00001, Fishers' exact test), suggesting that exposure to additional factors not examined here might play a role. SARS-CoV-2-specific cross-reactive antibodies were significantly less common in HIV-positive specimens (p=0.017; Fishers' Exact test). Correlations between SARS-CoV-2- and HuCoV-specific IFN-γ responses were consistently weak in both HIV negative and positive specimens.

Discussion:

These findings support the existence of pre-epidemic SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular and humoral cross-reactivity in this population. The data do not establish that these virus-specific IFN-γ and antibody responses are entirely specific to SARS-CoV-2. Inability of the antibodies to neutralise SARS-CoV-2 implies that prior exposure did not result in immunity. Correlations between SARS-CoV-2 and HuCoV-specific responses were consistently weak, suggesting that additional variables likely contributed to the pre-epidemic cross-reactivity patterns. The data suggests that surveillance efforts based on the nucleoprotein might overestimate the exposure to SARS-CoV-2 compared to inclusion of additional targets, like the spike protein. This study, while limited in scope, suggests that HIV-positive people are less likely than HIV-negative people to produce protective antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: HIV Seropositivity / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Front Immunol Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fimmu.2023.1148877

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: HIV Seropositivity / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Front Immunol Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fimmu.2023.1148877