Can we predict antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2? A cohort analysis.

Gaeddert, M.; Kitchen, P.; Broger, T.; Weber, S.; Bartenschlager, R.; Plaszczyca, A.; Kräusslich, H.-G.; Müller, B.; Souto-Carneiro, M.; Janssen, M.; Müller-Tidow, C.; Merle, U.; Herrmann, Y.; Raedeker, L.; Sebastian, J.; Brindl, N.; Starck, T.; Denkinger, C. M.

Background: After infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and virus-specific neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) develop. This study describes antibody responses in a cohort of recovered COVID-19 patients to identify predictors. Methods: We recruited patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from Heidelberg, Germany. Blood samples were collected three weeks after COVID-19 symptoms ended. Participants with high antibody titers were invited for follow-up visits. IgG titers were measured by the Euroimmun Assay, and nAbs titers in a SARS-CoV-2 infection-based assay. Results: 281 participants were enrolled between April and August 2020 with IgG testing, 145 (51.6%) had nAbs, and 35 (12.5%) had follow-up. The median IgG optical density (OD) ratio was 3.1 (Interquartile range (IQR) 1.6-5.1), and 24.1% (35/145) had a nAb titer>1:80. Higher IgG titers were associated with increased age and more severe disease, and higher nAbs were associated with male gender and CT-value of 25-30 on RT-PCR at diagnosis. The median IgG OD ratio on follow-up was 3.7 (IQR 2.9-5.9), a median increase of 0.5 (IQR -0.3-1.7). Six participants with follow-up nAbs all had titers [≤] 1:80. Conclusions: While age and disease severity were correlated with IgG responses, predictive factors for nAbs in convalescent patients remain unclear.