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Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 generates T-cell memory in the absence of a detectable viral infection

Author

Listed:
  • Zhongfang Wang

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Xiaoyun Yang

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Jiaying Zhong

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Yumin Zhou

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Zhiqiang Tang

    (The Second Peoples Hospital of Changde City)

  • Haibo Zhou

    (The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Jun He

    (Affiliated Nanhua Hospital of University of South China)

  • Xinyue Mei

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Yonghong Tang

    (Affiliated Nanhua Hospital of University of South China)

  • Bijia Lin

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Zhenjun Chen

    (University of Melbourne, Melbourne)

  • James McCluskey

    (University of Melbourne, Melbourne)

  • Ji Yang

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Alexandra J. Corbett

    (University of Melbourne, Melbourne)

  • Pixin Ran

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

Abstract

T-cell immunity is important for recovery from COVID-19 and provides heightened immunity for re-infection. However, little is known about the SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell immunity in virus-exposed individuals. Here we report virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell memory in recovered COVID-19 patients and close contacts. We also demonstrate the size and quality of the memory T-cell pool of COVID-19 patients are larger and better than those of close contacts. However, the proliferation capacity, size and quality of T-cell responses in close contacts are readily distinguishable from healthy donors, suggesting close contacts are able to gain T-cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2 despite lacking a detectable infection. Additionally, asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients contain similar levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell memory. Overall, this study demonstrates the versatility and potential of memory T cells from COVID-19 patients and close contacts, which may be important for host protection.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhongfang Wang & Xiaoyun Yang & Jiaying Zhong & Yumin Zhou & Zhiqiang Tang & Haibo Zhou & Jun He & Xinyue Mei & Yonghong Tang & Bijia Lin & Zhenjun Chen & James McCluskey & Ji Yang & Alexandra J. Corb, 2021. "Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 generates T-cell memory in the absence of a detectable viral infection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-22036-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22036-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Adriana Tomic & Donal T. Skelly & Ane Ogbe & Daniel O’Connor & Matthew Pace & Emily Adland & Frances Alexander & Mohammad Ali & Kirk Allott & M. Azim Ansari & Sandra Belij-Rammerstorfer & Sagida Bibi , 2022. "Divergent trajectories of antiviral memory after SARS-CoV-2 infection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, December.

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