CD8

To better understand primary and recall T cell responses during COVID-19, it is important to examine unmanipulated SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells. Using peptide-HLA tetramers for direct ex vivo analysis, we characterized CD8+ T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 epitopes in COVID-19 patients and unexposed individuals. Unlike CD8+ T cells directed towards subdominant epitopes – B7/N257, A2/S269 and A24/S1208 – CD8+ T cells specific for the immunodominant B7/N105 epitope were detected at high frequency in pre-pandemic samples, and at increased frequency during acute COVID-19 and convalescence. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells in pre-pandemic samples from children, adults and elderly individuals predominantly displayed a naïve phenotype, indicating a lack of previous cross-reactive exposures. T cell receptor (TCR) analyses revealed diverse TCRαβ repertoires and promiscuous αβ-TCR pairing within B7/N105+CD8+ T cells. Our study demonstrates high naive precursor frequency and TCRαβ diversity within immunodominant B7/N105-specific CD8+ T cells, and provides insight into SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell origins and subsequent responses.
Graphical Abstract
Examining unmanipulated SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells is important for understanding primary and recall responses during COVID-19. Nguyen et al. analyze ex vivo CD8+ T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 epitopes and find that immunodominant B7/N105-specific CD8+ T cells are present at high frequencies in blood samples from unexposed, acute COVID-19, and convalescence individuals, which is underpinned by diverse TCR repertoires.