tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Pathogens
. 2022 Jan 29;11(2):186.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens11020186.
Formation and Expansion of Memory B Cells against Coronavirus in Acutely Infected COVID-19 Individuals
A Karim Embong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Phuong Nguyen-Contant[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jiong Wang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Preshetha Kanagaiah[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Francisco A Chaves[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Theresa F Fitzgerald[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Qian Zhou[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Gabrielle Kosoy[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Angela R Branche[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Benjamin L Miller[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Martin S Zand[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Mark Y Sangster[SUP] 1 [/SUP], David J Topham[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Infection with the β-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 typically generates strong virus-specific antibody production. Antibody responses against novel features of SARS-CoV-2 proteins require naïve B cell activation, but there is a growing appreciation that conserved regions are recognized by pre-existing memory B cells (MBCs) generated by endemic coronaviruses. The current study investigated the role of pre-existing cross-reactive coronavirus memory in the antibody response to the viral spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The breadth of reactivity of circulating antibodies, plasmablasts, and MBCs was analyzed. Acutely infected subjects generated strong IgG responses to the S protein, including the novel receptor binding domain, the conserved S2 region, and to the N protein. The response included reactivity to the S of endemic β-coronaviruses and, interestingly, to the N of an endemic α-coronavirus. Both mild and severe infection expanded IgG MBC populations reactive to the S of SARS-CoV-2 and endemic β-coronaviruses. Avidity of S-reactive IgG antibodies and MBCs increased after infection. Overall, findings indicate that the response to the S and N of SARS-CoV-2 involves pre-existing MBC activation and adaptation to novel features of the proteins, along with the potential of imprinting to shape the response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Keywords: B cells; SARS-CoV-2; antibodies; memory.
. 2022 Jan 29;11(2):186.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens11020186.
Formation and Expansion of Memory B Cells against Coronavirus in Acutely Infected COVID-19 Individuals
A Karim Embong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Phuong Nguyen-Contant[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jiong Wang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Preshetha Kanagaiah[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Francisco A Chaves[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Theresa F Fitzgerald[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Qian Zhou[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Gabrielle Kosoy[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Angela R Branche[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Benjamin L Miller[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Martin S Zand[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Mark Y Sangster[SUP] 1 [/SUP], David J Topham[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35215130
- DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020186
Abstract
Infection with the β-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 typically generates strong virus-specific antibody production. Antibody responses against novel features of SARS-CoV-2 proteins require naïve B cell activation, but there is a growing appreciation that conserved regions are recognized by pre-existing memory B cells (MBCs) generated by endemic coronaviruses. The current study investigated the role of pre-existing cross-reactive coronavirus memory in the antibody response to the viral spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The breadth of reactivity of circulating antibodies, plasmablasts, and MBCs was analyzed. Acutely infected subjects generated strong IgG responses to the S protein, including the novel receptor binding domain, the conserved S2 region, and to the N protein. The response included reactivity to the S of endemic β-coronaviruses and, interestingly, to the N of an endemic α-coronavirus. Both mild and severe infection expanded IgG MBC populations reactive to the S of SARS-CoV-2 and endemic β-coronaviruses. Avidity of S-reactive IgG antibodies and MBCs increased after infection. Overall, findings indicate that the response to the S and N of SARS-CoV-2 involves pre-existing MBC activation and adaptation to novel features of the proteins, along with the potential of imprinting to shape the response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Keywords: B cells; SARS-CoV-2; antibodies; memory.