December 3, 2020

Intrafamilial Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Associated with Cellular Immune Response without Seroconversion, France

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Vaccines and Immunity

Keywords (Tags): immunity

• Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 could induce virus-specific T-cell responses without inducing virus-specific antibody responses. In a study including 11 SARS-CoV-2 serodiscordant couples staying in the same household in which 1 of the 2 partners had lab-confirmed and mild symptomatic COVID-19, the index partners who were initially infected displayed SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and T-cell responses up to 102 days after symptom onset. However, among their respective partners, none developed antibodies but 4 out of the 6 who developed COVID-19 symptoms displayed positive T-cell responses. The authors conclude that these T-cell responses provide evidence that transient or anatomically contained SARS-CoV-2 infection may have occurred and that T-cell responses could be more sensitive indicators of SARS-Co-V-2 exposure than antibodies.

Gallais et al. (Nov 30, 2021). Intrafamilial Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Associated with Cellular Immune Response without Seroconversion, France. Emerging Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2701.203611