Differential T cell reactivity to seasonal coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in community and health care workers.

Herein we measured CD4 ⁺ T cell responses against common cold corona (CCC) viruses and SARS-CoV-2 in high-risk health care workers (HCW) and community controls. We observed higher levels of CCC reactive T cells in SARS-CoV-2 seronegative HCW compared to community donors, consistent with potential higher occupational exposure of HCW to CCC. We further show that SARS-CoV-2 reactivity of seronegative HCW was higher than community controls and correlation between CCC and SARS-CoV-2 responses is consistent with cross-reactivity and not associated with recent in vivo activation. Surprisingly, CCC reactivity was decreased in SARS-CoV-2 infected HCW, suggesting that exposure to SARS-CoV-2 might interfere with CCC responses, either directly or indirectly. This result was unexpected, but consistently detected in independent cohorts derived from Miami and San Diego.
Competing Interests: Competing interests A.S. is a consultant for Gritstone, Flow Pharma, Merck, Epitogenesis, Gilead and Avalia. S.C. is a consultant for Avalia. LJI has filed for patent protection for various aspects of T cell epitope and vaccine design work. Mount Sinai has licensed serological assays to commercial entities and has filed for patent protection for serological assays. D.S., F.A., and F.K. are listed as inventors on the pending patent application (F.K.), and Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines that name F.K. as inventor. Mount Sinai has licensed serological assays to commercial entities and has filed for patent protection for serological assays. D.S., F.A. and F.K. are listed as inventors on the pending patent application. All other authors declare no conflict of interest