AUTHOR=Kang Chang Kyung , Kim Minji , Hong Jisu , Kim Gwanghun , Lee Soojin , Chang Euijin , Choe Pyoeng Gyun , Kim Nam Joong , Kim Ik Soo , Seo Jun-Young , Song Daesub , Lee Dong-Sup , Shin Hyun Mu , Kim Yong-Woo , Lee Chang-Han , Park Wan Beom , Kim Hang-Rae , Oh Myoung-don TITLE=Distinct Immune Response at 1 Year Post-COVID-19 According to Disease Severity JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.830433 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.830433 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=Background

Despite the fact of ongoing worldwide vaccination programs for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), understanding longevity, breadth, and type of immune response to coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is still important to optimize the vaccination strategy and estimate the risk of reinfection. Therefore, we performed thorough immunological assessments 1 year post-COVID-19 with different severity.

Methods

We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma samples at 1 year post-COVID-19 in patients who experienced asymptomatic, mild, and severe illness to assess titers of various isotypes of antibodies (Abs) against SARS-CoV-2 antigens, phagocytic capability, and memory B- and T-cell responses.

Findings

A total of 24 patients (7, 9, and 8 asymptomatic, mild, and severe patients, respectively) and eight healthy volunteers were included in this study. We firstly showed that disease severity is correlated with parameters of immune responses at 1 year post-COVID-19 that play an important role in protecting against reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, namely, the phagocytic capacity of Abs and memory B-cell responses.

Interpretation

Various immune responses at 1 year post-COVID-19, particularly the phagocytic capacity and memory B-cell responses, were dependent on the severity of the prior COVID-19. Our data could provide a clue for a tailored vaccination strategy after natural infection according to the severity of COVID-19.