tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Clin Virol Plus
. 2023 Aug;3(3):100156.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcvp.2023.100156. Epub 2023 Jun 24. High SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Lagos, Nigeria with robust antibody and cellular immune responses
Sulaimon Akanmu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bobby Brooke Herrera[SUP] 2 3 4 5 [/SUP], Beth Chaplin[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Sade Ogunsola[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Akin Osibogun[SUP] 1 6 [/SUP], Fatima Onawoga[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sarah John-Olabode[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Iorhen E Akase[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Augustina Nwosu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Donald J Hamel[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Charlotte A Chang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Phyllis J Kanki[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Early evidence suggested that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was less severe in Africa compared to other parts of the world. However, more recent studies indicate higher SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 mortality rates on the continent than previously documented. Research is needed to better understand SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity in Africa.
Methods: In early 2021, we studied the immune responses in healthcare workers (HCWs) at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (n = 134) and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine recipients from the general population (n = 116) across five local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos State, Nigeria. Western blots were used to simultaneously detect SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid (N) antibodies (n = 250), and stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with N followed by an IFN-γ ELISA was used to examine T cell responses (n = 114).
Results: Antibody data demonstrated high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 72·4% (97/134) in HCWs and 60·3% (70/116) in the general population. Antibodies directed to only SARS-CoV-2 N, suggesting pre-existing coronavirus immunity, were seen in 9·7% (13/134) of HCWs and 15·5% (18/116) of the general population. T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 N (n = 114) were robust in detecting exposure to the virus, demonstrating 87·5% sensitivity and 92·9% specificity in a subset of control samples tested. T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 N were also observed in 83.3% of individuals with N-only antibodies, further suggesting that prior non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection may provide cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusions: These results have important implications for understanding the paradoxically high SARS-CoV-2 infection with low mortality rate in Africa and supports the need to better understand the implications of SARS-CoV-2 cellular immunity.
Keywords: Africa; Antibody; COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Nigeria; SARS CoV-2; T-cell; Vaccine.
. 2023 Aug;3(3):100156.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcvp.2023.100156. Epub 2023 Jun 24. High SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Lagos, Nigeria with robust antibody and cellular immune responses
Sulaimon Akanmu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bobby Brooke Herrera[SUP] 2 3 4 5 [/SUP], Beth Chaplin[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Sade Ogunsola[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Akin Osibogun[SUP] 1 6 [/SUP], Fatima Onawoga[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sarah John-Olabode[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Iorhen E Akase[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Augustina Nwosu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Donald J Hamel[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Charlotte A Chang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Phyllis J Kanki[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37388808
- PMCID: PMC10289822
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jcvp.2023.100156
Background: Early evidence suggested that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was less severe in Africa compared to other parts of the world. However, more recent studies indicate higher SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 mortality rates on the continent than previously documented. Research is needed to better understand SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity in Africa.
Methods: In early 2021, we studied the immune responses in healthcare workers (HCWs) at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (n = 134) and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine recipients from the general population (n = 116) across five local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos State, Nigeria. Western blots were used to simultaneously detect SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid (N) antibodies (n = 250), and stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with N followed by an IFN-γ ELISA was used to examine T cell responses (n = 114).
Results: Antibody data demonstrated high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 72·4% (97/134) in HCWs and 60·3% (70/116) in the general population. Antibodies directed to only SARS-CoV-2 N, suggesting pre-existing coronavirus immunity, were seen in 9·7% (13/134) of HCWs and 15·5% (18/116) of the general population. T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 N (n = 114) were robust in detecting exposure to the virus, demonstrating 87·5% sensitivity and 92·9% specificity in a subset of control samples tested. T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 N were also observed in 83.3% of individuals with N-only antibodies, further suggesting that prior non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection may provide cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusions: These results have important implications for understanding the paradoxically high SARS-CoV-2 infection with low mortality rate in Africa and supports the need to better understand the implications of SARS-CoV-2 cellular immunity.
Keywords: Africa; Antibody; COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Nigeria; SARS CoV-2; T-cell; Vaccine.