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T cell immune memory after covid-19 and vaccination

2023; BMJ; Volume: 2; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000468

2754-0413

Lulu Wang, Alexander R. Nicols, Lance Turtle, Alex Richter, C.J. Duncan, Susanna Dunachie, Paul Klenerman, Rebecca P. Payne,

Immune responses and vaccinations

The T cell memory response is a crucial component of adaptive immunity responsible for limiting or preventing viral reinfection. T cell memory after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus or vaccination is broad, and spans multiple viral proteins and epitopes, about 20 in each individual. So far the T cell memory response is long lasting and provides a high level of cross reactivity and hence resistance to viral escape by variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, such as the omicron variant. All current vaccine regimens tested produce robust T cell memory responses, and heterologous regimens will probably enhance protective responses through increased breadth. T cell memory could have a major role in protecting against severe covid-19 disease through rapid viral clearance and early presentation of epitopes, and the presence of cross reactive T cells might enhance this protection. T cell memory is likely to provide ongoing protection against admission to hospital and death, and the development of a pan-coronovirus vaccine might future proof against new pandemic strains.