Ellis, Samuel;
Burleigh, Alice;
Way, Rosie;
Kembou-Ringert, Japhette;
Masonou, Tereza;
Gilmour, Kimberly;
Grandjean, Louis;
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(2022)
Longevity and neutralisation activity of secretory IgA following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
(Access Microbiology
).
Microbiology Society
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Abstract
The mucosal barrier is a primary defence against inhaled pathogens, comprising secretory antibodies which have the potential to block viral entry and neutralise infection. There is an ongoing need for greater understanding of the mucosal immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we investigated mucosal IgA through non-invasive saliva sampling of healthcare workers. A total of 551 saliva samples were collected from staff at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital who previously tested positive for COVID-19. Participant metadata included age, gender, ethnicity and symptoms. IgA titres were measured by ELISA against viral antigens spike protein, nucleocapsid protein, and spike receptor-binding domain. SARS-CoV-2 neutralisation was measured using a VERO E6 cell culture infection assay. We found that approximately 30% of saliva samples contained detectable IgA specific for at least one of the SARS-CoV-2 antigens. IgA levels in saliva decreased with the time post-infection, and were largely undetectable after six months. IgA titres specific to SARS-CoV-2 were lowest in participants over 60 years old. Specific saliva samples were identified which effectively neutralised SARS-CoV-2 virus infection of epithelial cells. Our results suggest secretory IgA specific to SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in saliva following infection, an accessible sample type for testing, although titres decreased over time. Some saliva samples were able to neutralise SARS-CoV-2 infectivity against cultured epithelial cells. This data could be used to assess the risk of re-infection with SARS-CoV-2, as well as accelerate efforts to develop effective mucosal vaccination with longer lasting protection.
| Type: | Report |
|---|---|
| Title: | Longevity and neutralisation activity of secretory IgA following SARS-CoV-2 infection |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1099/acmi.ac2021.po0434 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.ac2021.po0434 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2022 The Authors This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Dept UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10149805 |
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