SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody responses are more robust in patients with severe disease

Emerg Microbes Infect. 2020 Dec;9(1):2091-2093. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1823890.

Abstract

We studied plasma antibody responses of 35 patients about 1 month after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Titers of antibodies binding to the viral nucleocapsid and spike proteins were significantly higher in patients with severe disease. Likewise, mean antibody neutralization titers against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and live virus were higher in the sicker patients, by ∼5-fold and ∼7-fold, respectively. These findings have important implications for those pursuing plasma therapy, isolation of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, and determinants of immunity.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; antibody; neutralization; non-severe; severe.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Nucleocapsid / immunology*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / immunology*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Viral Envelope Proteins