key: cord-1009201-teirfbcn
authors: Mouton, William; Compagnon, Christelle; Saker, Kahina; Daniel, Soizic; Djebali, Sophia; Lacoux, Xavier; Pozzetto, Bruno; Oriol, Guy; Laubreton, Daphné; Prieux, Margaux; Fassier, Jean‐Baptiste; Guibert, Nicolas; Massardier‐Pilonchéry, Amélie; Alfaiate, Dulce; Berthier, Franck; Walzer, Thierry; Marvel, Jacqueline; Brengel‐Pesce, Karen; Trouiller‐Assant, Sophie
title: Specific detection of memory T‐cells in COVID‐19 patients using standardized whole‐blood Interferon gammarelease assay
date: 2021-09-06
journal: Eur J Immunol
DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149296
sha: 360889e2671b1c2672405e3365b92bbc570ddcbf
doc_id: 1009201
cord_uid: teirfbcn

Antigen‐specific T‐cells are essential for protective immunity against SARS‐CoV‐2. We set up a semi‐automated whole‐blood Interferon‐gamma release assay (WB IGRA) to monitor the T‐cell response after stimulation with SARS‐CoV‐2 peptide pools. We report that the WB IGRA is complementary to serological assays to assess SARS‐CoV‐2 immunity. [Image: see text]

HCWs were HKU-1 or NL-63 positive (detailed in (2, 3) ). At 6 months post-infection, blood sampling was performed for each patient. According to French procedures, a written non-opposition to the use of donated blood for research purposes was obtained from HVs. The donors' personal data were anonymized before transfer to our research laboratory. We obtained approval from the local ethical committee and the French ministry of research (DC-2008-64) for handling and conservation of these samples.

The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ab was evaluated on serum samples using the Wantai Ab assay that measures total Abs against the RBD of the S protein and the bioMérieux Vidas® assay that measures IgG to the RBD. Positivity was established according to the threshold value recommended by each manufacturer. The NAb titres were determined by a virus neutralization test (VNT) using live SARS-CoV-2 virus as previously described (2) . 

For WB IGRA responses, comparisons were performed using non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's multiple comparison test or Mann-Whitney test ; the overall, positive and negative percent agreements were determined between WB IGRA response and serological assays or VNT as previously described (4) . Statistical analyses were conducted using GraphPad Prism® software (GraphPad software, La Jolla, USA) and R software. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Infectious Diseases (except HIV/AIDS)