Long-lasting humoral immunity in Covid-19 infected patients at a University Hospital Clinic in Ostergotland County Council during 2020-2021.

Hinkula, J.; Azharuddin, M.; Aili, D.; Naeimipour, S.; Selegard, R.; Sunnerhagen, M.; Patra, H. K.; Sjoberg, S. K.; Niward, K.; Hanberger, H.; Ostholm-Balked, A.

doi:10.1101/2021.04.27.441589

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.04.27.441589

Long-lasting humoral immunity in Covid-19 infected patients at a University Hospital Clinic in Ostergotland County Council during 2020-2021.

Hinkula, J.·Azharuddin, M.·Aili, D.·Naeimipour, S.·Selegard, R.·Sunnerhagen, M.·Patra, H. K.·Sjoberg, S. K.·Niward, K.·Hanberger, H.·Ostholm-Balked, A.

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Abstract

Longitudinal serum samples and nasopharyngeal/nasal swab samples were collected from forty-eight individuals (median age 66yrs) with Covid-19 PCR-positive test results at Linkoping University Hospital. Samples were collected from initial visit and for 6 months follow up. Presence of serum IgG and IgA against SARS-CoV-2 antigens (S1-spike, nucleocapsid and NSP3) were analyzed. Nasal swabs were tested for presence of IgA against the outer envelope S1 spike protein. Ninety-two percent of participants were seropositive against SARS-CoV-2 recombinant proteins at day 28 from study entry and all (100%) were seropositive from samples collected at 2 months or later. The most common antibody responses (both serum IgG, mainly IgG1 and IgA) were detected against the S1-spike protein and the nucleoprotein. In samples collected from nasal tissues considerably lower frequencies of IgA-positive reactivities were detected. Sixteen to 18 percent of study participants showed detectable IgA levels in nasal samples, except at day 60 when 36% of tested individuals showed presence of IgA against the S1-spike protein. The study suggests that the absolute majority of studied naturally infected Covid-19 patient in the Linkoping, Ostergotland health region develop over 6 months lasting detectable levels of serum IgG and IgA responses towards the SARS-CoV-2 S1-spike protein as well as against the nucleoprotein, but not against the non-structural protein 3.

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Hinkula, J., Azharuddin, M., Aili, D., Naeimipour, S., Selegard, R., Sunnerhagen, M., Patra, H. K., Sjoberg, S. K., Niward, K., Hanberger, H., Ostholm-Balked, A.. 2021-04-27. Long-lasting humoral immunity in Covid-19 infected patients at a University Hospital Clinic in Ostergotland County Council during 2020-2021.. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.27.441589

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