[PDF][PDF] Robust T cell immunity in convalescent individuals with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19

T Sekine, A Perez-Potti, O Rivera-Ballesteros, K Strålin… - Cell, 2020 - cell.com
T Sekine, A Perez-Potti, O Rivera-Ballesteros, K Strålin, JB Gorin, A Olsson…
Cell, 2020cell.com
Summary SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T cells will likely prove critical for long-term immune
protection against COVID-19. Here, we systematically mapped the functional and
phenotypic landscape of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in unexposed individuals,
exposed family members, and individuals with acute or convalescent COVID-19. Acute-
phase SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells displayed a highly activated cytotoxic phenotype that
correlated with various clinical markers of disease severity, whereas convalescent-phase …
Summary
SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T cells will likely prove critical for long-term immune protection against COVID-19. Here, we systematically mapped the functional and phenotypic landscape of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in unexposed individuals, exposed family members, and individuals with acute or convalescent COVID-19. Acute-phase SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells displayed a highly activated cytotoxic phenotype that correlated with various clinical markers of disease severity, whereas convalescent-phase SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were polyfunctional and displayed a stem-like memory phenotype. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were detectable in antibody-seronegative exposed family members and convalescent individuals with a history of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19. Our collective dataset shows that SARS-CoV-2 elicits broadly directed and functionally replete memory T cell responses, suggesting that natural exposure or infection may prevent recurrent episodes of severe COVID-19.
cell.com