Understanding the implications of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections on immune response milieu, laboratory tests and control measures against COVID-19

Mustapha, Jelili Olaide; Abdullahi, Idris Nasir; Ajagbe, Odunayo O.R.; Emeribe, Anthony Uchenna; Fasogbon, Samuel Ayobami; Onoja, Solomon Oloche; Ugwu, Charles Egede; Umeozuru, Chikodi Modesta; Ajayi, Folake Olubunmi; Tanko, Wudi Natasha; Omosigho, Pius Omoruyi; Aliyu, Abdulmumuni Samuel; Shuwa, Halima Ali; Nwofe, Justin Onyebuchi; Dangana, Amos; Alaba, Ovye; Ghamba, Peter Elisha; Ibrahim, Yakubu; Aliyu, Dorcas; Animasaun, Olawale Sunday; Ugboaja, Nkechi Blessing; Baba Mallam, Mala Alhaji; Abubakar, Sharafudeen Dahiru; Aminu, Maijidda Saidu; Yahaya, Hadiza; Oyewusi, Silifat

Several months after the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), cases of re-infection after recovery were reported. The extent and duration of protective immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection is not fully understood. As such, the possibility of re-infection with SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, cases of re-infection were mainly due to different variants or mutant SARS-CoV-2. Following the fast and pandemic-scale spread of COVID-19, mutations in SARS-CoV-2 have raised new diagnostic challenges which include the redesign of the oligonucleotide sequences used in RT-PCR assays to avoid potential primer–sample mismatches, and decrease sensitivities. Since the initial wave of the pandemic, some regions had experienced fresh outbreaks, predisposing people to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 re-infection. Hence, this article sought to offer detailed biology of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections and their implications on immune response milieu, diagnostic laboratory tests and control measures against COVID-19.