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Population-Based Study Of Coronavirus Antibody Cross-Reactivity To Inform SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Surveys, Severity Profiles, And Vaccine Strategies

  • Funded by Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
  • Total publications:0 publications

Grant number: unknown

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Key facts

  • Disease

    COVID-19

  • Funder

    Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research

  • Principal Investigator

    Agatha Jassem

  • Research Location

    Canada

  • Lead Research Institution

    University of British Columbia

  • Research Priority Alignment

    N/A

  • Research Category

    Pathogen: natural history, transmission and diagnostics

  • Research Subcategory

    Immunity

  • Special Interest Tags

    N/A

  • Study Type

    Unspecified

  • Clinical Trial Details

    N/A

  • Broad Policy Alignment

    Pending

  • Age Group

    Not Applicable

  • Vulnerable Population

    Not applicable

  • Occupations of Interest

    Not applicable

Abstract

Most people have had one or more colds due to seasonal coronaviruses (CoV) with the number of prior infections increasing with age. SARS-CoV-2 entered the human population in late 2019, causing the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that no one had immunity yet older males are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness. One explanation is that prior antibodies to seasonal CoVs may enhance SARS-CoV-2 risk through a process called antibody dependent enhancement. To assess that hypothesis we first need to know if seasonal CoV antibodies interact with SARS-CoV-2, how common those antibodies are, and if older men have more of them. We will develop a pan-CoV assay to compare prevalence of all human CoVs by age and sex. Findings will inform SARS-CoV-2 sero-surveys, severity profiles and vaccine strategies.