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Review
. 2021 Jan 9;7(1):e05951.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05951. eCollection 2021 Jan.

Understanding the implications of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections on immune response milieu, laboratory tests and control measures against COVID-19

Jelili Olaide Mustapha  1 , Idris Nasir Abdullahi  2 , Odunayo O R Ajagbe  3 , Anthony Uchenna Emeribe  4 , Samuel Ayobami Fasogbon  5 , Solomon Oloche Onoja  6 , Charles Egede Ugwu  7 , Chikodi Modesta Umeozuru  8 , Folake Olubunmi Ajayi  8 , Wudi Natasha Tanko  8 , Pius Omoruyi Omosigho  9 , Abdulmumuni Samuel Aliyu  10 , Halima Ali Shuwa  11 , Justin Onyebuchi Nwofe  7 , Amos Dangana  12 , Ovye Alaba  12 , Peter Elisha Ghamba  13 , Yakubu Ibrahim  2 , Dorcas Aliyu  4 , Olawale Sunday Animasaun  8 , Nkechi Blessing Ugboaja  14 , Mala Alhaji Baba Mallam  15 , Sharafudeen Dahiru Abubakar  2 , Maijidda Saidu Aminu  15 , Hadiza Yahaya  15 , Silifat Oyewusi  15
Affiliations
Review

Understanding the implications of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections on immune response milieu, laboratory tests and control measures against COVID-19

Jelili Olaide Mustapha et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Several months after the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), cases of re-infection after recovery were reported. The extent and duration of protective immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection is not fully understood. As such, the possibility of re-infection with SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, cases of re-infection were mainly due to different variants or mutant SARS-CoV-2. Following the fast and pandemic-scale spread of COVID-19, mutations in SARS-CoV-2 have raised new diagnostic challenges which include the redesign of the oligonucleotide sequences used in RT-PCR assays to avoid potential primer-sample mismatches, and decrease sensitivities. Since the initial wave of the pandemic, some regions had experienced fresh outbreaks, predisposing people to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 re-infection. Hence, this article sought to offer detailed biology of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections and their implications on immune response milieu, diagnostic laboratory tests and control measures against COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Diagnostic challenges; Immune evasion; Infection control; SARS-CoV-2 re-infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagram depicting differences in sensitivity of RT-PCR and serological diagnostic test to SARS-CoV-2 at different stages of infection. RT-PCR is sensitive at the early stage of infection but becomes less sensitive over time due to low level of RNA. This may result into false negative result. If the infection re-emerged it can be wrongfully assumed to be reinfection. On the other hand, serological tests are less sensitive at the early sage of infection but sensitivity increases towards the advance and recovery stages. However, antibody titre starts to decline 1–2 months after the acute infection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Antibody response during COVID-19 severe cases.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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