SARS-CoV-2 Infection Severity Is Linked to Superior Humoral Immunity against the Spike
Jenna J. Guthmiller, Olivia Stovicek, Jiaolong Wang, Siriruk Changrob, Lei Li, Peter Halfmann, Nai-Ying Zheng, Henry A. Utset, Christopher T. Stamper, Haley L. Dugan, William Miller, Min Huang, Ya-Nan Dai, Christopher A. Nelson, Paige D. Hall, Maud O. Jansen, Kumaran Shanmugarajah, Jessica Donington, Florian Krammer, Daved H. Fremont, A. Joachimiak, Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Vera Tešić, Maria Lucia L. Madariaga, Patrick C. Wilson
Abstract
With the ongoing pandemic, it is critical to understand how natural immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 develops. We have identified that subjects with more severe COVID-19 disease mount a more robust and neutralizing antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Subjects who mounted a larger response against the spike also mounted antibody responses against other viral antigens, including the nucleocapsid protein and ORF8. Additionally, this study reveals that subjects with more severe disease mount a larger memory B cell response against the spike. These data suggest that subjects with more severe COVID-19 disease are likely better protected from reinfection with SARS-CoV-2.