RETRACTED: Understanding the implications of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections on immune response milieu, laboratory tests and control measures against COVID-19
Jelili Olaide Mustapha, Idris Nasir Abdullahi, Oluwabusola Ajagbe, Anthony Uchenna Emeribe, Samuel Ayobami Fasogbon, Solomon Oloche Onoja, Charles Egede Ugwu, Chikodi Modesta Umeozuru, Folake Olubunmi Ajayi, Wudi Natasha Tanko, Pius Omoruyi Omosigho, Abdulmumuni Samuel Aliyu, Halima Ali Shuwa, Justin Onyebuchi Nwofe, Amos Dangana, Ovye Alaba, Peter Elisha Ghamba, Yakubu Ibrahim, Dorcas Aliyu, Olawale Sunday Animasaun, Nkechi Blessing Ugboaja, Mala A. Sainna, Sharafudeen Dahiru Abubakar, Maijidda Saidu Aminu, Hadiza Yahaya, Silifat Oyewusi
Abstract
Several months after the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), cases of re-infection after recovery were reported. The extent and duration of protective immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection is not fully understood. As such, the possibility of re-infection with SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, cases of re-infection were mainly due to different variants or mutant SARS-CoV-2. Following the fast and pandemic-scale spread of COVID-19, mutations in SARS-CoV-2 have raised new diagnostic challenges which include the redesign of the oligonucleotide sequences used in RT-PCR assays to avoid potential primer-sample mismatches, and decrease sensitivities. Since the initial wave of the pandemic, some regions had experienced fresh outbreaks, predisposing people to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 re-infection. Hence, this article sought to offer detailed biology of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections and their implications on immune response milieu, diagnostic laboratory tests and control measures against COVID-19.