Title:
Recent endemic coronavirus infection is associated with less severe COVID-19
Authors:
Manish Sagar, Katherine Reifler, Michael Rossi, Nancy S. Miller, Pranay Sinha Laura White & Joseph P. Mizgerd
Published:
Journal of Clinical Investigation (J Clin Invest), 30 September 2020
Abstract:
Four different endemic coronaviruses (eCoVs) are etiologic agents for the seasonal “common cold,” and these eCoVs share extensive sequence homology with human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we show that individuals with as compared to without a relatively recent documented eCoV were tested at greater frequency for respiratory infections but had similar rate of SARS-CoV-2 acquisition. Importantly, the patients with a previously detected eCoV had less severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) illness. Our observations suggest that pre-existing immune responses against endemic human coronaviruses can mitigate disease manifestations from SARS-CoV-2 infection.