IPC researchers published a new study assessing the immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection
Understanding the duration of humoral and cellular immune memory following SARS-CoV-2 infection is key to overcome the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Researchers at Institut Pasteur du Cambodge have evaluated the presence of virus-specific antibodies, T cells and B cells after SARS-CoV-2 infection in Cambodian individuals. The study shows the presence of protective antibodies and immune cells 6-9 months after asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Asymptomatic infection resulted in decreased antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and decreased frequency of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells at 6-9 months after infection. Moreover, the different aspects of a functional immune memory response do not fully correlate with one another and require separate evaluation when considering long-term immune memory to SARS-CoV-2. Taken together, these data enhance our understanding of long-term functional immune memory responses to SARS-CoV-2 after natural infection.
This study is a collaboration between Immunology, Virology and Epidemiology and Public Health Units at Institut Pasteur du Cambodge and in collaboration with Institut Pasteur Paris and the Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health.