About this Research Topic
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scientific community quickly organized to identify novel therapies. Interventions based on infusing neutralizing antibodies, which encompass both convalescent plasma and monoclonal antibodies, have been evaluated in clinical trials and found to be beneficial particularly when given early in the course of infection. Moreover, the development of vaccines that deliver the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein have demonstrated robust humoral immunity through the generation of neutralizing antibodies.
A number of ongoing questions exist about neutralizing antibodies and their role in treating or preventing COVID-19 either through passive immunity or vaccine immunization. Indeed, the utility of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients is still not fully established and ongoing studies are needed to define the efficacy. Likewise, monoclonal antibodies require more studies to investigate the optimal timing of infusion, dosing, delivery methods, and their efficacy against emerging escape mutant variants.
Another area that requires exploration is the interaction between neutralizing antibodies and vaccinations to SARS-CoV-2. The current CDC recommendation is that those receiving passive immunity with an infusion of neutralizing antibodies (convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies) should defer vaccination for 90 days. However, there is currently a lack of data supporting this practice. Furthermore, post-vaccine sera contain a high titer of neutralizing antibodies and understanding the importance of neutralizing antibodies in providing long-term immunity is needed.
Finally, in the face of emerging variants of concern, re-evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies from passive immunity or in post-vaccine sera are also of high priority.
Therefore, this Research Topic is interested in Original Research, Reviews, Perspectives, Case Reports, and Clinical Trials that will cover neutralizing antibodies (monoclonal antibodies; convalescent and post-vaccine sera) in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Some examples of themes that can be covered include:
1. Mechanisms by which neutralizing antibodies augment the immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infections
2. Real-world data on the effectiveness of passive immunity as a treatment for COVID-19 and on vaccination to prevent disease, reduce the severity of illness and mortality.
3. Effect of neutralization antibody infusion on the efficacy or effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccinations
4. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern on the protection by neutralizing antibodies
Topic Editor Dr. Razonable received grants from Regeneron, Gilead, and Roche, for research purposes. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests
Keywords: COVID-19, neutralizing antibody, monoclonal antibody, convalescent plasma, post-vaccination sera, passive immunity, bamlanivimab, etesevimab, casirivimab, imdevimab, SARS-CoV-2
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
