Cross-reactive immunity against SARS-CoV-2 N protein in Central and West Africa precedes the COVID-19 pandemic

Jannie Pedersen, Ismaël Hervé Koumakpayi, Giorgi Babuadze, Mariana Baz, Oumar Ndiaye, Oumar Faye, Cheikh Tidiane Diagne, Ndongo Dia, Maedeh Naghibosadat, Allison McGeer, Samira Muberaka, Irène P Moukandja, Stella Ndidi, Carlos B Tauil, Jean-Bernard Lekana-Douki, Cheikh Loucoubar, Ousmane Faye, Amadou Sall, Kelly G Magalhães, Nina WeisRobert Kozak, Gary P Kobinger, Hugues Fausther-Bovendo

19 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Early predictions forecasted large numbers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) cases and associated deaths in Africa. To date, Africa has been relatively spared. Various hypotheses were postulated to explain the lower than anticipated impact on public health in Africa. However, the contribution of pre-existing immunity is yet to be investigated. In this study, the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins in pre-pandemic samples from Africa, Europe, South and North America was examined by ELISA. The protective efficacy of N specific antibodies isolated from Central African donors was tested by in vitro neutralization and in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 S and N proteins were rare in all populations except in Gabon and Senegal where N specific antibodies were prevalent. However, these antibodies failed to neutralize the virus either in vitro or in vivo. Overall, this study indicates that cross-reactive immunity against SARS-CoV-2 N protein was present in Africa prior to the pandemic. However, this pre-existing humoral immunity does not impact viral fitness in rodents suggesting that other human immune defense mechanisms could be involved. In Africa, seroprevalence studies using the N protein are over-estimating SARS-CoV-2 circulation.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer12962
TidsskriftScientific Reports
Vol/bind12
Udgave nummer1
Sider (fra-til)1-7
Antal sider7
ISSN2045-2322
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 28 jul. 2022

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