tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Cell Host Microbe
. 2024 Jan 4:S1931-3128(23)00498-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.12.003. Online ahead of print. Post-pandemic memory T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 is durable, broadly targeted, and cross-reactive to the hypermutated BA.2.86 variant
Rofhiwa Nesamari[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Millicent A Omondi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Richard Baguma[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Maxine A Höft[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Amkele Ngomti[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anathi A Nkayi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Asiphe S Besethi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Siyabulela F J Magugu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Paballo Mosala[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Avril Walters[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gesina M Clark[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mathilda Mennen[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Sango Skelem[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Marguerite Adriaanse[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Alba Grifoni[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Alessandro Sette[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Roanne S Keeton[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ntobeko A B Ntusi[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Catherine Riou[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Wendy A Burgers[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) evolution has given rise to recombinant Omicron lineages that dominate globally (XBB.1), as well as the emergence of hypermutated variants (BA.2.86). In this context, durable and cross-reactive T cell immune memory is critical for continued protection against severe COVID-19. We examined T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 approximately 1.5 years since Omicron first emerged. We describe sustained CD4+ and CD8+ spike-specific T cell memory responses in healthcare workers in South Africa (n = 39) who were vaccinated and experienced at least one SARS-CoV-2 infection. Spike-specific T cells are highly cross-reactive with all Omicron variants tested, including BA.2.86. Abundant nucleocapsid and membrane-specific T cells are detectable in most participants. The bulk of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses have an early-differentiated phenotype, explaining their persistent nature. Overall, hybrid immunity leads to the accumulation of spike and non-spike T cells evident 3.5 years after the start of the pandemic, with preserved recognition of highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Keywords: BA.2.86 sub-lineage; SARS-CoV-2; T cell response; T cell sustainability; cross-reactivity.
. 2024 Jan 4:S1931-3128(23)00498-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.12.003. Online ahead of print. Post-pandemic memory T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 is durable, broadly targeted, and cross-reactive to the hypermutated BA.2.86 variant
Rofhiwa Nesamari[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Millicent A Omondi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Richard Baguma[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Maxine A Höft[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Amkele Ngomti[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anathi A Nkayi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Asiphe S Besethi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Siyabulela F J Magugu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Paballo Mosala[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Avril Walters[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gesina M Clark[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mathilda Mennen[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Sango Skelem[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Marguerite Adriaanse[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Alba Grifoni[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Alessandro Sette[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Roanne S Keeton[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ntobeko A B Ntusi[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Catherine Riou[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Wendy A Burgers[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 38211583
- DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.12.003
Ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) evolution has given rise to recombinant Omicron lineages that dominate globally (XBB.1), as well as the emergence of hypermutated variants (BA.2.86). In this context, durable and cross-reactive T cell immune memory is critical for continued protection against severe COVID-19. We examined T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 approximately 1.5 years since Omicron first emerged. We describe sustained CD4+ and CD8+ spike-specific T cell memory responses in healthcare workers in South Africa (n = 39) who were vaccinated and experienced at least one SARS-CoV-2 infection. Spike-specific T cells are highly cross-reactive with all Omicron variants tested, including BA.2.86. Abundant nucleocapsid and membrane-specific T cells are detectable in most participants. The bulk of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses have an early-differentiated phenotype, explaining their persistent nature. Overall, hybrid immunity leads to the accumulation of spike and non-spike T cells evident 3.5 years after the start of the pandemic, with preserved recognition of highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Keywords: BA.2.86 sub-lineage; SARS-CoV-2; T cell response; T cell sustainability; cross-reactivity.