Activation of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody is slower than elevation of spike-specific IgG, IgM, and nucleocapsid-specific IgG antibodies

Abstract COVID-19 antibody testing has been developed to investigate humoral immune response in SARS-CoV-2 infection. To assess the serological dynamics and neutralizing potency following SARS-CoV-2 infection, we investigated the neutralizing (NT) antibody, anti-spike, and anti-nucleocapsid antibodi...

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Main Authors: Maika Takahashi, Tomohiko Ai, Konomi Sinozuka, Yuna Baba, Gene Igawa, Shuko Nojiri, Takamasa Yamamoto, Maiko Yuri, Satomi Takei, Kaori Saito, Yuki Horiuchi, Takayuki Kanno, Minoru Tobiume, Abdullah Khasawneh, Faith Jessica Paran, Makoto Hiki, Mitsuru Wakita, Takashi Miida, Tadaki Suzuki, Atsushi Okuzawa, Kazuhisa Takahashi, Toshio Naito, Yoko Tabe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-09-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19073-z
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Summary:Abstract COVID-19 antibody testing has been developed to investigate humoral immune response in SARS-CoV-2 infection. To assess the serological dynamics and neutralizing potency following SARS-CoV-2 infection, we investigated the neutralizing (NT) antibody, anti-spike, and anti-nucleocapsid antibodies responses using a total of 168 samples obtained from 68 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Antibodies were measured using an authentic virus neutralization assay, the high-throughput laboratory measurements of the Abbott Alinity quantitative anti-spike receptor-binding domain IgG (S-IgG), semiquantitative anti-spike IgM (S-IgM), and anti-nucleocapsid IgG (N-IgG) assays. The quantitative measurement of S-IgG antibodies was well correlated with the neutralizing activity detected by the neutralization assay (r = 0.8943, p < 0.0001). However, the kinetics of the SARS-CoV-2 NT antibody in severe cases were slower than that of anti-S and anti-N specific antibodies. These findings indicate a limitation of using the S-IgG antibody titer, detected by the chemiluminescent immunoassay, as a direct quantitative marker of neutralizing activity capacity. Antibody testing should be carefully interpreted when utilized as a marker for serological responses to facilitate diagnostic, therapeutic, and prophylactic interventions.
ISSN:2045-2322