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ResearchIn-Press PreviewCOVID-19Immunology Open Access | 10.1172/jci.insight.146316

A majority of uninfected adults show pre-existing antibody reactivity against SARS-CoV-2

Abdelilah Majdoubi,1 Christina Michalski,2 Sarah E. O’Connell,3 Sarah Dada,1 Sandeep R. Narpala,3 Jean P. Gelinas,4 Disha Mehta,4 Claire Cheung,1 Dirk F.H. Winkler,5 Manjula Basappa,3 Aaron C. Liu,1 Matthias Görges,6 Vilte E. Barakauskas,7 Michael A. Irvine,8 Jennifer Mehalko,9 Dominic Esposito,9 Inna Sekirov,10 Agatha N. Jassem,10 David M. Goldfarb,1 Steven Pelech,5 Daniel C. Douek,3 Adrian B. McDermott,3 and Pascal M Lavoie2

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Majdoubi, A. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Michalski, C. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by O’Connell, S. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Dada, S. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Narpala, S. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Gelinas, J. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Mehta, D. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Cheung, C. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Winkler, D. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Basappa, M. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Liu, A. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Görges, M. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Barakauskas, V. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Irvine, M. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Mehalko, J. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Esposito, D. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Sekirov, I. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Jassem, A. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Goldfarb, D. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Pelech, S. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Douek, D. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by McDermott, A. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

2Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

3Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disea, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States of America

4Department of Anesthesiology, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, Canada

5Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada

6Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

8Data and Analytic Services, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

9National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Progra, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, United States of America

10British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada

Find articles by Lavoie, P. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

Published March 15, 2021 - More info

JCI Insight. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.146316.
Copyright © 2021, Majdoubi et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Published March 15, 2021 - Version history
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Abstract

Pre-existing cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 may occur in absence of prior viral exposure. However, this has been difficult to quantify at the population level due to a lack of reliably defined seroreactivity thresholds. Using an orthogonal antibody testing approach, we estimated that ~0.6% of non-triaged adults from the greater Vancouver area, Canada between May 17th and June 19th 2020 showed clear evidence of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, after adjusting for false-positive and false-negative test results. Using a highly sensitive multiplex assay and positive/negative thresholds established in infants in whom maternal antibodies have waned, we determine that more than 90% of uninfected adults showed antibody reactivity against the spike, receptor-binding domain (RBD), N-terminal domains (NTD) or the nucleocapsid (N) protein from SARS-CoV-2. This sero-reactivity was evenly distributed across age and sex, correlated with circulating coronaviruses reactivity, and was partially outcompeted by soluble circulating coronaviruses’ spike. Using a custom SARS-CoV-2 peptide mapping array, we found that this antibody reactivity broadly mapped to spike, and to conserved non-structural viral proteins. We conclude that most adults display pre-existing antibody cross-reactivity against SARS-CoV-2, which further supports investigation of how this may impact the clinical severity of COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responses.

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