Mary Wilson
Well-known member
Published 24 May 2023
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38020-8
Eser, T.M., Baranov, O., Huth, M. et al.
Abstract
Despite intensive research since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, it has remained unclear precisely which components of the early immune response protect against the development of severe COVID-19. Here, we perform a comprehensive immunogenetic and virologic analysis of nasopharyngeal and peripheral blood samples obtained during the acute phase of infection with SARS-CoV-2. We find that soluble and transcriptional markers of systemic inflammation peak during the first week after symptom onset and correlate directly with upper airways viral loads (UA-VLs), whereas the contemporaneous frequencies of circulating viral nucleocapsid (NC)-specific CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] and CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells correlate inversely with various inflammatory markers and UA-VLs. In addition, we show that high frequencies of activated CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] and CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells are present in acutely infected nasopharyngeal tissue, many of which express genes encoding various effector molecules, such as cytotoxic proteins and IFN-γ. The presence of IFNG mRNA-expressing CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] and CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells in the infected epithelium is further linked with common patterns of gene expression among virus-susceptible target cells and better local control of SARS-CoV-2. Collectively, these results identify an immune correlate of protection against SARS-CoV-2, which could inform the development of more effective vaccines to combat the acute and chronic illnesses attributable to COVID-19.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38020-8#citeas
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38020-8
Eser, T.M., Baranov, O., Huth, M. et al.
Abstract
Despite intensive research since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, it has remained unclear precisely which components of the early immune response protect against the development of severe COVID-19. Here, we perform a comprehensive immunogenetic and virologic analysis of nasopharyngeal and peripheral blood samples obtained during the acute phase of infection with SARS-CoV-2. We find that soluble and transcriptional markers of systemic inflammation peak during the first week after symptom onset and correlate directly with upper airways viral loads (UA-VLs), whereas the contemporaneous frequencies of circulating viral nucleocapsid (NC)-specific CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] and CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells correlate inversely with various inflammatory markers and UA-VLs. In addition, we show that high frequencies of activated CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] and CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells are present in acutely infected nasopharyngeal tissue, many of which express genes encoding various effector molecules, such as cytotoxic proteins and IFN-γ. The presence of IFNG mRNA-expressing CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] and CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells in the infected epithelium is further linked with common patterns of gene expression among virus-susceptible target cells and better local control of SARS-CoV-2. Collectively, these results identify an immune correlate of protection against SARS-CoV-2, which could inform the development of more effective vaccines to combat the acute and chronic illnesses attributable to COVID-19.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38020-8#citeas