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SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies may vary widely across the population 

By Brian Buntz | March 24, 2021

SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies

This colorized scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (round blue objects), the virus that causes COVID-19, emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. [Image courtesy of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases]

The duration of immunity from COVID-19 infections is still not well understood. But a recent longitudinal study indicates that the presence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies could range from about 40 days to decades, depending on the severity of infection.

The study followed 164 patients infected with the novel coronavirus for up to 180 days after symptoms developed, measuring changes in neutralizing antibody levels.

The researchers at the Duke–National University of Singapore (Duke–NUS) then used a machine learning model to predict neutralizing antibodies’ duration.

After concluding that such antibodies’ presence varies widely in individuals, Wang Linfa, a professor at Duke-NUS and a corresponding author of the study, theorized that it is vital to monitor neutralizing antibody levels in individuals over time. “This work may have implications for immunity longevity after vaccination, which will be part of our follow-up studies,” Wang Linfa said in a statement.

The researchers broke study participants into the following groups:

  • A total of 11.6% of study participants did not develop detectable levels of neutralizing antibodies.
  • Some 26.8% saw their antibody levels decline quickly.
  • Another 29.0% generally tested positive for antibodies at six months.
  • A total of 31.7% had significant neutralizing antibody levels up to 180 days after developing COVID-19 symptoms.
  • A ‘delayed response’ group (1.8%) developed neutralizing antibodies during a late stage of recovery from infection.

In general, participants who had persistent neutralizing antibodies tended to have more severe infections accompanied by substantial levels of cytokines and growth factors.

The study authors also observed the presence of T-cell immunity across study participants, including those without detectable neutralizing antibodies. According to Dr. David Lye, a professor at National Center for Infectious Diseases in Singapore, more data are required to understand the protection afforded from T-cell immunity in the long term.

The study findings could help drug companies develop better vaccines, according to Laurent Renia, executive director of A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs.

The study could also help policymakers formulate strategies for ending the pandemic and preventing potential waves of reinfection resulting from waning immunity.

However, the study authors stress that they are “not at a stage to conclusively correlate the level of antibody responses with protective immunity” but added that the research has shed light on the dynamics of antibody responses from COVID-19 infection.

The antibody response to other coronaviruses that infect humans is generally short-lived.


Filed Under: Infectious Disease
Tagged With: coronavirus, covid-19, Duke University, National University of Singapore
 

About The Author

Brian Buntz

As the pharma and biotech editor at WTWH Media, Brian has almost two decades of experience in B2B media, with a focus on healthcare and technology. While he has long maintained a keen interest in AI, more recently Brian has made making data analysis a central focus, and is exploring tools ranging from NLP and clustering to predictive analytics.

Throughout his 18-year tenure, Brian has covered an array of life science topics, including clinical trials, medical devices, and drug discovery and development. Prior to WTWH, he held the title of content director at Informa, where he focused on topics such as connected devices, cybersecurity, AI and Industry 4.0. A dedicated decade at UBM saw Brian providing in-depth coverage of the medical device sector. Engage with Brian on LinkedIn or drop him an email at bbuntz@wtwhmedia.com.

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