Persistent T-Cell Reactivity in a Seronegative Patient after SARS-CoV-2 Infection and One Vaccination (2022)

Antibodies do not equal immunity and should not be used for the purposes of segregation.

Any extracts used in the following article are for non commercial research and educational purposes only and may be subject to copyright from their respective owners.

Thanks to Dr John B.

"... sole assessment of prior infections & #CovidVaccine responses based on antibody detection is not reliable & has serious limitations in individual patients"

"A robust T-cell immunity remained detectable at least until 6 months after the infection”

Abstract

We present here a 64-year-old male participant of the CoNAN study who experienced a PCR-confirmed mild SARS-CoV-2 infection but did not develop any measurable antibody response. Additionally, after vaccination with ChAdOx1 (AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK) 11 months later, no antibodies were detected in six serological tests three weeks after the vaccination. When we assessed T-helper (Th) cell immunity, SARS-CoV-2-specific Th cells produced detectable amounts of IFNγ and TNF six weeks after the infection. A robust T-cell immunity remained detectable at least until six months after the infection and was boosted by the vaccination thereafter. This case report points out that an assessment of a prior infection or a vaccine response based solely on antibody detection might have limitations in individual patients.

Keywords: CoNAN; Neustadt am Rennsteig; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; T cell responses; T immunity; antibodies

Full paper:

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/1/114/htm