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Antibody dynamics to SARS‐CoV‐2 in asymptomatic COVID‐19 infections

Journal Article · · Allergy (Copenhagen)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14622· OSTI ID:1787071
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  1. Department of Pathogen Biology School of Basic Medicine Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
  2. Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education) Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China
  3. Department of Laboratory Medicine Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
  4. Department of Public Health Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
  5. Department of Microbiology School of Basic Medical Sciences Anhui Medical University Hefei China
+ Show Author Affiliations

Abstract Background

The missing asymptomatic COVID‐19 infections have been overlooked because of the imperfect sensitivity of the nucleic acid testing (NAT). Globally understanding the humoral immunity in asymptomatic carriers will provide scientific knowledge for developing serological tests, improving early identification, and implementing more rational control strategies against the pandemic.

Measure

Utilizing both NAT and commercial kits for serum IgM and IgG antibodies, we extensively screened 11 766 epidemiologically suspected individuals on enrollment and 63 asymptomatic individuals were detected and recruited. Sixty‐three healthy individuals and 51 mild patients without any preexisting conditions were set as controls. Serum IgM and IgG profiles were further probed using a SARS‐CoV‐2 proteome microarray, and neutralizing antibody was detected by a pseudotyped virus neutralization assay system. The dynamics of antibodies were analyzed with exposure time or symptoms onset.

Results

A combination test of NAT and serological testing for IgM antibody discovered 55.5% of the total of 63 asymptomatic infections, which significantly raises the detection sensitivity when compared with the NAT alone (19%). Serum proteome microarray analysis demonstrated that asymptomatics mainly produced IgM and IgG antibodies against S1 and N proteins out of 20 proteins of SARS‐CoV‐2. Different from strong and persistent N‐specific antibodies, S1‐specific IgM responses, which evolved in asymptomatic individuals as early as the seventh day after exposure, peaked on days from 17 days to 25 days, and then disappeared in two months, might be used as an early diagnostic biomarker. 11.8% (6/51) mild patients and 38.1% (24/63) asymptomatic individuals did not produce neutralizing antibody. In particular, neutralizing antibody in asymptomatics gradually vanished in two months.

Conclusion

Our findings might have important implications for the definition of asymptomatic COVID‐19 infections, diagnosis, serological survey, public health, and immunization strategies.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1787071
Journal Information:
Allergy (Copenhagen), Journal Name: Allergy (Copenhagen) Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 76; ISSN 0105-4538
Publisher:
Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Denmark
Language:
English

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