1. Distinct T cell polyfunctional profile in SARS-CoV-2 seronegative children associated with endemic human coronavirus cross-reactivity
- Author
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Ntombi Benede, Marius B. Tincho, Avril Walters, Vennesa Subbiah, Amkele Ngomti, Richard Baguma, Claire Butters, Lina Hahnle, Mathilda Mennen, Sango Skelem, Marguerite Adriaanse, Heidi Facey-Thomas, Christiaan Scott, Jonathan Day, Timothy F. Spracklen, Strauss van Graan, Sashkia R. Balla, Thandeka Moyo-Gwete, Penny L. Moore, Rae MacGinty, Maresa Botha, Lesley Workman, Marina Johnson, David Goldblatt, Heather J. Zar, Ntobeko A.B. Ntusi, Liesl Zühlke, Kate Webb, Catherine Riou, Wendy A. Burgers, and Roanne S. Keeton
- Subjects
Immunology ,Immune response ,Components of the immune system ,Virology ,Science - Abstract
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 infection in children typically results in asymptomatic or mild disease. There is a paucity of studies on SARS-CoV-2 antiviral immunity in African children. We investigated SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in 71 unvaccinated asymptomatic South African children who were seropositive or seronegative for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cell responses were detectable in 83% of seropositive and 60% of seronegative children. Although the magnitude of the CD4+ T cell response did not differ significantly between the two groups, their functional profiles were distinct, with SARS-CoV-2 seropositive children exhibiting a higher proportion of polyfunctional T cells compared to their seronegative counterparts. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells in seronegative children was associated with the endemic human coronavirus (HCoV) HKU1 IgG response. Overall, the presence of SARS-CoV-2-responding T cells in seronegative children may result from cross-reactivity to endemic coronaviruses and could contribute to the relative protection from disease observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected children.
- Published
- 2024
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