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. 2021 Mar;9(1):128-133.
doi: 10.1002/iid3.367. Epub 2020 Dec 15.

Evidence and implications of pre-existing humoral cross-reactive immunity to SARS-CoV-2

Amandine Mveang Nzoghe  1 , Paulin N Essone  2   3 , Marielle Leboueny  1 , Anicet Christel Maloupazoa Siawaya  1 , Eliode Cyrien Bongho  1 , Ofilia Mvoundza Ndjindji  1 , Rotimi Myrabelle Avome Houechenou  1 , Selidji Todagbe Agnandji  2   3 , Joel Fleury Djoba Siawaya  1
Affiliations

Evidence and implications of pre-existing humoral cross-reactive immunity to SARS-CoV-2

Amandine Mveang Nzoghe et al. Immun Inflamm Dis. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged throughout the world. Building knowledge around Covid-19 is crucial to devise facts based approaches to respond efficiently against this pandemic.

Aim: We aimed to investigate pre-existing humoral cross-reactive immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

Method: We have tested the reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen of sera collected from healthy healthcare volunteers in 2014. We assessed immunoglobulins reactive against SARS-CoV-2 N-antigen using a well-validated serological platform; Elecsys assay.

Results: Sera from 32 subjects (out of 135 [23.7%]) were reactive to SARS-CoV-2 N-antigen, suggesting the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 N-antigen antibodies.

Conclusion: Although the clinical relevance of the observed reactivity can only be speculated and needs to be investigated, the implication of this finding for coronavirus disease 2019 seroepidemiological survey and vaccines' clinical trials is critical.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cutoff index (COI) of sera collected from the community years before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. A COI ≥ 1.0 indicates a reactive sample (positive for anti‐severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS‐CoV‐2] antibodies)
Figure 2
Figure 2
COI of reactive samples collected years before the COVID‐19 pandemic. The figure shows the results of two independent tests. COI, cutoff index; COVID‐19, coronavirus disease 2019
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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