Compartmentalised mucosal and blood immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with high seroprevalence before the Delta wave in Africa
Abstract Background The reported number of SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths are lower in Africa compared to many high-income countries. However, in African cohorts, detailed characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 mucosal and T cell immunity are limited. We assessed the SARS-CoV-2-specific immune landscape in The...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Communications Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00902-x |
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| author | Ya Jankey Jagne Dawda Jobe Alansana Darboe Madikoi Danso Natalie Barratt Marie Gomez Rhys Wenlock Sheikh Jarju Ellen Lena Sylva Aji Fatou Touray Fatoumata Toure Michelle Kumado Anja Saso Domen Zafred Martin Nicklin Jon Sayers Hailey Hornsby Benjamin Lindsey Abdul Karim Sesay Nigel Temperton Adam Kucharski David Hodgson Thushan de Silva Beate Kampmann |
| author_facet | Ya Jankey Jagne Dawda Jobe Alansana Darboe Madikoi Danso Natalie Barratt Marie Gomez Rhys Wenlock Sheikh Jarju Ellen Lena Sylva Aji Fatou Touray Fatoumata Toure Michelle Kumado Anja Saso Domen Zafred Martin Nicklin Jon Sayers Hailey Hornsby Benjamin Lindsey Abdul Karim Sesay Nigel Temperton Adam Kucharski David Hodgson Thushan de Silva Beate Kampmann |
| author_sort | Ya Jankey Jagne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The reported number of SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths are lower in Africa compared to many high-income countries. However, in African cohorts, detailed characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 mucosal and T cell immunity are limited. We assessed the SARS-CoV-2-specific immune landscape in The Gambia during the presence of the pre-Delta variant in July 2021. Methods A cross-sectional assessment of SARS-CoV-2 immunity in 349 unvaccinated individuals from 52 Gambian households was performed between March–June 2021. SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) specific binding antibodies were measured by ELISA, variant-specific serum neutralizing-antibodies (NAb) by viral pseudotype assays and nasal fluid IgA by mesoscale discovery assay. SARS-CoV-2 T-cell responses were evaluated using ELISpot assay. Results We show that adjusted anti-Spike antibody seroprevalence is 56.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 49.0-64.0), with lower rates in children <5 years (26.2%, 13.9-43.8) and 5-17 years (46.4%, 36.2-56.7) compared to adults 18-49 years (78.4%, 68.8–85.8). Among spike-seropositive individuals, NAb titres are highest against Alpha variant (median IC50 110), with 27% showing pre-existing Delta variant titres >1:50. T-cell responses are higher in spike-seropositive individuals, although 34% of spike-seronegative individuals show responses to at least one antigen pool. We observe strong correlations within SARS-CoV-2 T-cell, mucosal IgA, and serum NAb responses. Conclusions High SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in The-Gambia induce mucosal and blood immunity, reducing Delta and Omicron impact. Children are relatively protected from infection. T-cell responses in seronegative individuals may indicate either pre-pandemic cross-reactivity or individuals with a T-cell dominated response to SARS-CoV-2 infection with absent or poor humoral responses. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a4f4b79d661441fb72499489c5e7a85 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2730-664X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Communications Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a4f4b79d661441fb72499489c5e7a852025-08-20T02:25:08ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Medicine2730-664X2025-05-015111010.1038/s43856-025-00902-xCompartmentalised mucosal and blood immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with high seroprevalence before the Delta wave in AfricaYa Jankey Jagne0Dawda Jobe1Alansana Darboe2Madikoi Danso3Natalie Barratt4Marie Gomez5Rhys Wenlock6Sheikh Jarju7Ellen Lena Sylva8Aji Fatou Touray9Fatoumata Toure10Michelle Kumado11Anja Saso12Domen Zafred13Martin Nicklin14Jon Sayers15Hailey Hornsby16Benjamin Lindsey17Abdul Karim Sesay18Nigel Temperton19Adam Kucharski20David Hodgson21Thushan de Silva22Beate Kampmann23Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineDivision of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of SheffieldVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineDivision of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of SheffieldDivision of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of SheffieldDivision of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of SheffieldDivision of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of SheffieldDivision of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of SheffieldVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineViral Pseudotype Unit, Medway School of Pharmacy, University of KentCentre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel StreetCentre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel StreetVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineAbstract Background The reported number of SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths are lower in Africa compared to many high-income countries. However, in African cohorts, detailed characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 mucosal and T cell immunity are limited. We assessed the SARS-CoV-2-specific immune landscape in The Gambia during the presence of the pre-Delta variant in July 2021. Methods A cross-sectional assessment of SARS-CoV-2 immunity in 349 unvaccinated individuals from 52 Gambian households was performed between March–June 2021. SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) specific binding antibodies were measured by ELISA, variant-specific serum neutralizing-antibodies (NAb) by viral pseudotype assays and nasal fluid IgA by mesoscale discovery assay. SARS-CoV-2 T-cell responses were evaluated using ELISpot assay. Results We show that adjusted anti-Spike antibody seroprevalence is 56.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 49.0-64.0), with lower rates in children <5 years (26.2%, 13.9-43.8) and 5-17 years (46.4%, 36.2-56.7) compared to adults 18-49 years (78.4%, 68.8–85.8). Among spike-seropositive individuals, NAb titres are highest against Alpha variant (median IC50 110), with 27% showing pre-existing Delta variant titres >1:50. T-cell responses are higher in spike-seropositive individuals, although 34% of spike-seronegative individuals show responses to at least one antigen pool. We observe strong correlations within SARS-CoV-2 T-cell, mucosal IgA, and serum NAb responses. Conclusions High SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in The-Gambia induce mucosal and blood immunity, reducing Delta and Omicron impact. Children are relatively protected from infection. T-cell responses in seronegative individuals may indicate either pre-pandemic cross-reactivity or individuals with a T-cell dominated response to SARS-CoV-2 infection with absent or poor humoral responses.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00902-x |
| spellingShingle | Ya Jankey Jagne Dawda Jobe Alansana Darboe Madikoi Danso Natalie Barratt Marie Gomez Rhys Wenlock Sheikh Jarju Ellen Lena Sylva Aji Fatou Touray Fatoumata Toure Michelle Kumado Anja Saso Domen Zafred Martin Nicklin Jon Sayers Hailey Hornsby Benjamin Lindsey Abdul Karim Sesay Nigel Temperton Adam Kucharski David Hodgson Thushan de Silva Beate Kampmann Compartmentalised mucosal and blood immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with high seroprevalence before the Delta wave in Africa Communications Medicine |
| title | Compartmentalised mucosal and blood immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with high seroprevalence before the Delta wave in Africa |
| title_full | Compartmentalised mucosal and blood immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with high seroprevalence before the Delta wave in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Compartmentalised mucosal and blood immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with high seroprevalence before the Delta wave in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Compartmentalised mucosal and blood immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with high seroprevalence before the Delta wave in Africa |
| title_short | Compartmentalised mucosal and blood immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with high seroprevalence before the Delta wave in Africa |
| title_sort | compartmentalised mucosal and blood immunity to sars cov 2 is associated with high seroprevalence before the delta wave in africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00902-x |
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