Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 up to 15 months after infection

Information concerning the longevity of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 following natural infection may have considerable implications for durability of immunity induced by vaccines. Here, we monitored the SARS-CoV-2 specific immune response in COVID-19 patients followed up to 15 months after symptoms onset. Following a peak at day 15-28 postinfection, the IgG antibody response and plasma neutralizing titers gradually decreased over time but stabilized after 6 months. Compared to G614, plasma neutralizing titers were more than 8-fold lower against variants Beta, Gamma, and Delta. SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B and T cells persisted in the majority of patients up to 15 months although a significant decrease in specific T cells, but not B cells, was observed between 6 and 15 months. Antiviral specific immunity, especially memory B cells in COVID-19 convalescent patients, is long-lasting, but some variants of concern may at least partially escape the neutralizing activity of plasma antibodies.

Automated summary

This study monitored the immune response in COVID-19 patients up to 15 months after symptom onset. It found that the IgG antibody response and plasma neutralizing titers gradually decreased over time but stabilized after 6 months. SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B and T cells persisted in the majority of patients up to 15 months, but there was a significant decrease in specific T cells between 6 and 15 months. Some variants of concern may partially escape the neutralizing activity of plasma antibodies.