The 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is caused by a zoonotic coronavirus transmitted to humans, similar to earlier events. Whether the other, seasonally circulating coronaviruses induce cross-reactive, potentially even cross-neutralizing, antibodies to the new species in humans is unclear. The question is particularly relevant for people with immune deficiencies, as their health depends on treatment with immunoglobulin preparations that need to contain neutralizing antibodies against the pathogens in their environment. Testing 54 intravenous immunoglobulin preparations, produced from plasma collected in Europe and the United States, confirmed highly potent neutralization of a seasonal coronavirus; however, no cross-neutralization of the new SARS-CoV-2 was seen.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS coronavirus 2 antibody titer; SARS-CoV-2; intravenous immunoglobulin; neutralizing antibodies; plasma; primary immunodeficiency.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.