Robust T Cell Response Toward Spike, Membrane, and Nucleocapsid SARS-CoV-2 Proteins Is Not Associated with Recovery in Critical COVID-19 Patients.

ABSTRACT: T cell immunity toward SARS-CoV-2 spike (S-), membrane (M-), and nucleocapsid (N-) proteins may define COVID-19 severity. Therefore, we compare the SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cell responses in moderate, severe, and critical COVID-19 patients and unexposed donors. Overlapping peptide pools of all three proteins induce SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cell response with dominance of CD4⁺ over CD8⁺ T cells and demonstrate interindividual immunity against the three proteins. M-protein induces the highest frequencies of CD4⁺ T cells, suggesting its relevance for diagnosis and vaccination. The T cell response of critical COVID-19 patients is robust and comparable or even superior to non-critical patients. Virus clearance and COVID-19 survival are not associated with either SARS-

SUBMITTER: Thieme CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7456276 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature