Longitudinal observation and decline of neutralizing antibody responses in the three months following SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans

Seow, Jeffrey, Graham, Carl, Merrick, Blair, Acors, Sam, Pickering, Suzanne, Steel, Kathryn J. A., Hemmings, Oliver, O’Byrne, Aoife, Kouphou, Neophytos, Galao, Rui Pedro, and others. (2020) Longitudinal observation and decline of neutralizing antibody responses in the three months following SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans. Nature Microbiology, . pp. 1-14. ISSN 2058-5276. (doi:10.1038/s41564-020-00813-8) (KAR id:83758)

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-020-00813-8

Abstract

Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in most infected individuals 10–15 d after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. However, due to the recent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population, it is not known how long antibody responses will be maintained or whether they will provide protection from reinfection. Using sequential serum samples collected up to 94 d post onset of symptoms (POS) from 65 individuals with real-time quantitative PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, we show seroconversion (immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgA, IgG) in >95% of cases and neutralizing antibody responses when sampled beyond 8 d POS. We show that the kinetics of the neutralizing antibody response is typical of an acute viral infection, with declining neutralizing antibody titres observed after an initial peak, and that the magnitude of this peak is dependent on disease severity. Although some individuals with high peak infective dose (ID50 > 10,000) maintained neutralizing antibody titres >1,000 at >60 d POS, some with lower peak ID50 had neutralizing antibody titres approaching baseline within the follow-up period. A similar decline in neutralizing antibody titres was observed in a cohort of 31 seropositive healthcare workers. The present study has important implications when considering widespread serological testing and antibody protection against reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, and may suggest that vaccine boosters are required to provide long-lasting protection.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1038/s41564-020-00813-8
Subjects:	Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR355 Virology
Divisions:	Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Medway School of Pharmacy
Depositing User:	Nigel Temperton
Date Deposited:	27 Oct 2020 11:10 UTC
Last Modified:	09 Dec 2022 05:00 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/83758 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Temperton, Nigel J..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7978-3815
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