SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity: Specificity, function, durability, and role in protection

In efforts to synthesize a clear understanding of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) protective immunity, antibody analysis has been paralleled by T cell studies across asymptomatic, mild, and severe COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Defining CD4 and CD8 effector functions in protection is important, considering that antibody responses appear short-lived and T cell memory is potentially more durable. To fully understand population-level immunity, screening for both antibody and T cell immunity using standardized testing methods would be beneficial.