T cell reactivity to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is preserved in most but not all individuals.
cross_sectional · Level IV
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35202566.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2022.01.029 and PMC identifier 8810349.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) contains mutations that mediate escape from antibody responses, although the extent to which these substitutions in spike and non-spike proteins affect T cell recognition is unknown. In this study, we show that T cell responses in individuals with prior infection, vaccination, both prior infection and vaccination, and boosted vaccination are largely preserved to Omicron spike and non-spike proteins. However, we also identify a subset of individuals (∼21%) with a >50% reduction in T cell reactivity to the Omicron spike. Evaluation of functional CD4<sup>+</sup> and CD8<sup>+</sup> memory T cell responses confirmed these findings and revealed that reduced recognition to Omicron spike is primarily observed within the CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell compartment potentially due to escape from HLA binding. Booster vaccination enhanced T cell responses to Omicron spike. In contrast to neutralizing immunity, these findings suggest preservation of T cell responses to the Omicron variant, although with reduced reactivity in some individuals.