Broad and strong memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells induced by SARS-CoV-2 in UK convalescent individuals following COVID-19

TLDR

Understanding viral immunity is essential for developing SARS‑CoV‑2 vaccines and therapeutics. The study examined T‑cell memory in 42 recovered COVID‑19 patients (28 mild, 14 severe) and 16 unexposed controls using interferon‑γ assays with SARS‑CoV‑2 peptides (excluding ORF1). Severe cases showed broader and stronger T‑cell responses than mild cases, these responses correlated with spike‑specific antibodies, and 41 CD4‑epitope peptides were identified.

Abstract

The development of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines and therapeutics will depend on understanding viral immunity. We studied T cell memory in 42 patients following recovery from COVID-19 (28 with mild disease and 14 with severe disease) and 16 unexposed donors, using interferon-γ-based assays with peptides spanning SARS-CoV-2 except ORF1. The breadth and magnitude of T cell responses were significantly higher in severe as compared with mild cases. Total and spike-specific T cell responses correlated with spike-specific antibody responses. We identified 41 peptides containing CD4