NP 105–113 -B*07:02-specific CD8 + T cell responses are considered among the most dominant in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. We found strong association of this response with mild disease. Analysis of NP 105–113 -B*07:02-specific T cell clones and single-cell sequencing were performed concurrently, with functional avidity and antiviral efficacy assessed using an in vitro SARS-CoV-2 infection system, and were correlated with T cell receptor usage, transcriptome signature and disease severity (acute n = 77, convalescent n = 52). We demonstrated a beneficial association of NP 105–113 -B*07:02-specific T cells in COVID-19 disease progression, linked with expansion of T cell precursors, high functional avidity and antiviral effector function. Broad immune memory pools were narrowed postinfection but NP 105–113 -B*07:02-specific T cells were maintained 6 months after infection with preserved antiviral efficacy to the SARS-CoV-2 Victoria strain, as well as Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants. Our data show that NP 105–113 -B*07:02-specific T cell responses associate with mild disease and high antiviral efficacy, pointing to inclusion for future vaccine design. Peng et al. find that immunodominant cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for NP 105–113 -B*07:02 are associated with reduced COVID-19 severity. Mechanistically, NP 105–113 -B*07:02-specific CTLs show potent antiviral functionality and may represent rational T cell vaccine targets.
【저자키워드】 viral infection, Immunological memory, 【초록키워드】 Transcriptome, Vaccine, Antiviral, SARS-COV-2 infection, disease severity, Vaccine design, Sequencing, Infection, COVID-19 severity, Delta, progression, in vitro, CD8, variants, COVID-19 disease, T cell, Gamma, antiviral efficacy, Beta, immune memory, targets, convalescent, T cell receptor, single-cell, T cell response, CTL, association, CTLs, Victoria, precursors, SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, clone, immunodominant, cytotoxic T lymphocyte, dominant, Inclusion, Postinfection, performed, reduced, functional, demonstrated, correlated, preserved, the SARS-CoV-2, with mild disease, 【제목키워드】 viral replication, Control, T cell response, severe COVID-19 disease, immunodominant, less,