Journal Article

T cell immune memory after covid-19 and vaccination

Klenerman, Paul, Duncan, Christopher JA, Dunachie, Susanna J, Nicols, Alex, Payne, Rebecca P, Richter, Alex, Turtle, Lance, Wang, Lulu

2023

Overview

The T cell memory response is a crucial component of adaptive immunity responsible for limiting or preventing viral reinfection. T cell memory after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus or vaccination is broad, and spans multiple viral proteins and epitopes, about 20 in each individual. So far the T cell memory response is long lasting and provides a high level of cross reactivity and hence resistance to viral escape by variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, such as the omicron variant. All current vaccine regimens tested produce robust T cell memory responses, and heterologous regimens will probably enhance protective responses through increased breadth. T cell memory could have a major role in protecting against severe covid-19 disease through rapid viral clearance and early presentation of epitopes, and the presence of cross reactive T cells might enhance this protection. T cell memory is likely to provide ongoing protection against admission to hospital and death, and the development of a pan-coronovirus vaccine might future proof against new pandemic strains.

• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd,BMJ Publishing Group
• Subject: COVID-19 / Immunology / Respiratory tract infections / Specialist review