SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody responses are more robust in patients with severe disease

Abstract

We studied plasma antibody responses of 35 patients about 1 month after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Titers of antibodies binding to the viral nucleocapsid and spike proteins were significantly higher in patients with severe disease. Likewise, mean antibody neutralization titers against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and live virus were higher in the sicker patients, by ∼5-fold and ∼7-fold, respectively. These findings have important implications for those pursuing plasma therapy, isolation of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, and determinants of immunity.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; antibody; neutralization; non-severe; severe.

Figure 1.

Antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2. (a) Plasma titers of binding antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 NP and S trimer in Severe and Non-severe patients. (b) Comparison of the level of binding antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 between Severe and Non-severe patients. (c) Plasma neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and live virus in Severe and Non-severe patients. (d) Comparison of the level of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 between Severe and Non-severe patients. (e–f) Correlation of SARS-CoV-2 live virus neutralization titers versus pseudovirus neutralization titers (e) and S trimer-binding antibody titers (f). Lines in (b) and (d) represent mean ± SEM and p values were calculated by two-tailed t-test. * p < 0.05; *** p < 0.001. In (e–f), the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and the probability p value were calculated using GraphPad Prism.