Study: Certain immune cells from prior infections with "common cold" coronaviruses boost the immune response against #COVID19
JUST IN - Certain immune cells from prior infections with "common cold" coronaviruses boost the immune response against #COVID19, a new study led by Charité Medical University Berlin and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics concludes.
https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1432763741695889414
Cross-reactive CD4+ T cells enhance SARS-CoV-2 immune responses upon infection and vaccination
31 Aug 2021 DOI: 10.1126/science.abh1823
Abstract
The functional relevance of pre-existing cross-immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is a subject of intense debate. Here, we show that human endemic coronavirus (HCoV)-reactive and SARS-CoV-2-cross-reactive CD4+ T cells are ubiquitous but decrease with age. We identified a universal immunodominant coronavirus-specific spike peptide (S816-830) and demonstrate that pre-existing spike- and S816-830-reactive T cells were recruited into immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and their frequency correlated with anti-SARS-CoV-2-S1-IgG antibodies. Spike-cross-reactive T cells were also activated after primary BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccination displaying kinetics similar to secondary immune responses. Our results highlight the functional contribution of pre-existing spike-cross-reactive T cells in SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. Cross-reactive immunity may account for the unexpectedly rapid induction of immunity following primary SARS-CoV-2 immunization and the high rate of asymptomatic/mild COVID-19 disease courses
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https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abh1823