COVID-19
Natalia Egri, n/a
Immunology specialist
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
BARCELONA, Catalonia, Spain
Olive Victoria, n/a
Occupational Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
ba, Catalonia, Spain
José Hernández-Rodriguez, n/a
Vasculitis Research Unit and Autoinflammatory Diseases Clinical Unit, Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona
barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Pedro Castro, n/a
Medical Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Sergio Prieto-Gonzalez, n/a
Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatric Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Alfonso López-Soto, n/a
Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatric Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain ; Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Gamaliel Vega, n/a
Occupational Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Catherine De Guzman, n/a
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Libertad Heredia, n/a
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Ana Castellet segura, n/a
Occupational Health Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
M. Dolores Fernandez, n/a
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Noemi de Moner, n/a
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
María Torradeflot, n/a
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Judit Ballús, n/a
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Roberto Martinez, n/a
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Mario Vazquez, n/a
Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Guillermo Muñoz Sánchez, n/a
Immunology Department, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Mariona Pascal, n/a
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Hugo Calderón, n/a
Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Europa Azucena González Navarro, n/a
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Manel Juan, n/a
Head of Department
Department of Immunology, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
BACKGROUND The cellular and humoral immune responses are essential towards COVID-19 recovery and protection against SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. To this day, the evaluation of the immune protection to SARS-CoV-2 has mainly been focused on the detection of antibodies; However a large body of evidence suggest T lymphocytes have a greater role to resolve an established infection. OBJECTIVE Compare the magnitude of the cellular and humoral immune response in 252 convalescent COVID-19 from mild to severe patients. METHODS 252 individuals with COVID-19 (202 mild, 20 moderate and 30 severe COVID-19) were enrolled in the study. The study inclusion criteria included individuals age ≥18 years diagnosed by SARS-CoV-2 positive real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) tests from nasopharyngeal swabs. Blood samples were collected two weeks after the first RT-PCR positive test. The IgG, IgA and IgM were assessed by an in-house Luminex-based assay. The N- and S-reactive T cells were evaluated by in-house ELISpot and CoVITEST assay. RESULTS SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were identified in 100% of mild COVID-19, 100% of moderate COVID-19 and 81% in severe COVID-19. On the other hand, anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins were identified in 95% of mild COVID-19, 90% of moderate COVID-19 and 87.5% of severe COVID-19. We observed a strong SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in mild COVID individuals compared to moderate and severe COVID-19. CONCLUSION We show that the T-cell responses, unlike antibodies, are detected in practically all patients with COVID-19. Reinforcing the need of assessing cellular immunity, especially in vulnerable patients, instead of the humoral response.
