Pre-existing polymerase-specific T cells expand in abortive seronegative SARS-CoV-2.

ABSTRACT: Individuals with potential exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) do not necessarily develop PCR or antibody positivity, suggesting that some individuals may clear subclinical infection before seroconversion. T cells can contribute to the rapid clearance of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronavirus infections^1-3. Here we hypothesize that pre-existing memory T cell responses, with cross-protective potential against SARS-CoV-2 (refs. ^4-11), would expand in vivo to support rapid viral control, aborting infection. We measured SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells, including those against the early transcribed replication-transcription complex (RTC)^12,13, in intensively monitored healthcare workers (HCWs) who tested repeatedly negative according t

SUBMITTER: Swadling L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8732273 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature