SARS-CoV-2 infection establishes a stable and age-independent CD8⁺ T cell response against a dominant nucleocapsid epitope using restricted T cell receptors.

ABSTRACT: The resolution of SARS-CoV-2 replication hinges on cell-mediated immunity, wherein CD8⁺ T cells play a vital role. Nonetheless, the characterization of the specificity and TCR composition of CD8⁺ T cells targeting non-spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 before and after infection remains incomplete. Here, we analyzed CD8⁺ T cells recognizing six epitopes from the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein and found that SARS-CoV-2 infection slightly increased the frequencies of N-recognizing CD8⁺ T cells but significantly enhanced activation-induced proliferation compared to that of the uninfected donors. The frequencies of N-specific CD8⁺ T cells and their proliferative response to stimulation did not decrease over one year. We identified the N

SUBMITTER: Choy C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10593757 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature