August 17, 2020

Pre-COVID-19 Humoral Immunity to Common Coronaviruses Does Not Confer Cross-Protection against SARS-CoV-2

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Vaccines and Immunity

• [Preprint, not peer-reviewed] Miyara et al. analyzed the sera of 76 healthy French donors drawn in 2015 to test the hypothesis that past infections or immunizations related to the common alpha- and beta-coronavirus could lead to cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2. They reported 6 serological samples (8%) were reactive to SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Additionally, they detected serum IgG reactivity to common coronaviruses in the early sera of 8 patients with severe COVID-19 before the appearance of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The authors concluded that pre-existing immunity to common coronaviruses does not confer cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2. 

Miyara et al. (Aug 15, 2020). Pre-COVID-19 Humoral Immunity to Common Coronaviruses Does Not Confer Cross-Protection against SARS-CoV-2. Pre-print downloaded Aug 17 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.14.20173393