SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics: Towards a more comprehensive approach to routine patient testing

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Virology
• Diagnostic Assay Development

Background:

• The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic necessitated rapid development of diagnostic tests.
• Understanding post-infection immunity, including cellular and humoral responses, is crucial alongside vaccination efforts.
• Routine diagnostic laboratories require methods to detail the viral immune response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of a commercial multiplex assay and an in-house cell stimulation assay for characterizing SARS-CoV-2 immune responses.
• To assess the detailed antibody and T-cell responses in healthcare workers with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• To evaluate the qualitative and quantitative differences in immune responses among individuals.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a commercial multiplex assay (COVID Plus Assay, One Lambda) for structural assessment of SARS-CoV-2 response.
• Developed an in-house cell stimulation assay using commercial viral peptides (Miltenyi).
• Investigated a cohort of healthcare workers with confirmed prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated significant qualitative and quantitative differences in antibody responses among individuals.
• Confirmed a readily detectable T-cell recall response to SARS-CoV-2 antigen in recovered individuals.
• Observed variable magnitude in the T-cell immune response.

Conclusions:

• Both multiplex and cell-based assays are valuable for detailed characterization of SARS-CoV-2 immunity.
• Immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 are highly individualized.
• Further research is needed to understand the implications of variable immune responses for protective immunity.