key: cord-0918913-oksor1x3
authors: Morand, Grégoire B.
title: Neutralising antibodies and virus isolation: the keys to control covert COVID-19 spread?
date: 2021-01-08
journal: The Lancet regional health. Europe
DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100027
sha: b250dd220d9ee7073089925b26357042dd3e7036
doc_id: 918913
cord_uid: oksor1x3

nan

being only of proof of presence of viral RNA (4) , it is important to realize that only one third of positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swabs by RT-PCR had infective virus.

They also identified individuals simultaneously positive for SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swabs by RT-PCR and serologic testing for antibodies. However, infective virus was never recovered in nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR-positive patients that had neutralising antibodies, that is, antibodies that don't necessarily require cellular interaction to neutralise the pathogen.

Neutralising antibodies may be a key to distinguish individuals with a protective immunity to self and to others, from those yet to eradicate the virus from their body and potential covert spreader of the infection (1).

In the study by Taylor et al., more than 60% of seroconverters had neutralising antibodies. In another recent large scale study, the rate of seroconverters with neutralising antibodies against the spike protein was above 90% (8) . Different rates may be explained by different target antigens (nucleoprotein vs. spike) and by different study populations. Importantly, evidence from other reports show that neutralising antibodies are thought to last for months with low antibody waning (8) and being built irrespective of symptoms (6).

In conclusion, Taylor et al. should be complimented for their study. Investigations of young and healthy populations may seem less relevant in the fight against COVID-19. However, a better understanding of how to distinguish asymptomatic covert spreaders from individuals with protective immunity to self and others is crucial to protect the populations at risk. 

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