Pre-pandemic cross-reactive antibody and cellular responses against Sars-CoV-2 among female sex workers in Dakar, Senegal
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22084262 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bobby Brooke Herrera (0000-0002-2438-6716, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey), Beth Chaplin (0000-0002-7875-4027, Harvard University), Souleymane Mboup (0000-0002-7968-3320, Institute of Health Research, Epidemiological Surveillance and Training), Adam Abdullahi (0000-0001-9703-8264, University of Cambridge), Michelle He (Harvard University), Sydney M Fisher (Harvard University), Sulaimon Akanmu (0000-0001-7424-6060, University of Lagos), Charlotte A Chang (0009-0005-7600-0810, Harvard University), Donald J Hamel (0000-0002-2042-4885, Harvard University), Ravindra K Gupta (0000-0001-9751-1808, University of Cambridge), Phyllis J Kanki (0000-0003-4739-4572, Harvard University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Pages | 1522733-1522733 |
| Publication date | 2025-01-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1522733 |
| PMID | 39916712 |
| OpenAlex | W4406774786 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 44 |
Background The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact globally, yet African populations exhibited unexpectedly lower rates of severe disease and mortality. We investigated the potential role of pre-existing immunity in shaping the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Africa. Methods Plasma collected from Senegalese female sex workers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was screened for SARS-CoV-2 and human coronavirus (hCoV) antibodies by virion immunoblots. For antibody-reactive plasma, paired peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated by fusion proteins and IFN- γ cellular responses were assessed via ELISPOT. Results We observed substantial levels of pre-existing cross-reactive immunity to SARS-CoV-2, stemming from prior exposure to seasonal hCoVs. Our antibody analysis revealed a 23.5% (47/200) seroprevalence rate against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N). These samples were then probed for antibodies against hCoV spike (S) and/or N antigens; 85.1% (40/47), 70.2% (33/47), and 95.7% (45/47) were antibody reactive against hCoV-229E, hCoV-OC43, or hCoV-HKU1, respectively. Our analysis of cellular responses also demonstrated cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 with 80.0% (36/45) and 82.2% (37/45) showing IFN- γ responses against S and N, respectively. A unique pre-pandemic subject had cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2 S antibodies with detectable neutralization and cross-reactive cellular responses. Conclusion These findings suggest that prior hCoV exposure may induce cross-reactive adaptive immunity, potentially contributing to protection against COVID-19. Our study provides unique data on the dynamics of hCoV and SARS-CoV-2 immunity in Senegal and underscores the importance of understanding the role of pre-existing immunity in shaping COVID-19 outcomes globally
Antibody · Antigen · Biology · Cellular immunity · Coronavirus · Cross reactions · Cross-reactivity · Disease · ELISPOT · Immune system · Immunity · Pandemic · T cell · COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction · Immune responses and vaccinations · Medicine · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Immunology · Internal Medicine · Virology
| Highly cited | No |
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