Understanding immune memory to SARS-CoV-2 is critical for improving diagnostics and vaccines, and for assessing the likely future course of the COVID-19 pandemic. This analysis includes multiple compartments of circulating immune memory to SARS-CoV-2 from 188 COVID-19 cases, including 43 samples at > 6 months post-infection. By studying antibody, memory B cell, CD4+ T cell, and CD8+ T cell memory to SARS-CoV-2 in an integrated manner, it was observed that each component of SARS-CoV-2 immune memory exhibited distinct kinetics (Dan et al., Science 2021). Shane Crotty will also present a working model of the relationship between adaptive immune responses and COVID-19 disease.
Presenter
Dr. Crotty’s lab studies the fundamental immunology underlying vaccine functions. Initially trained in molecular virology and then viral immunology, Crotty’s laboratory focuses on both the basic immunology of T follicular helper (Tfh) CD4 T cells (Science 2009, Immunity 2019), viral immunology including SARS-CoV-2 (Cell 2020), B cell immunodominance (Science 2016, Immunity 2018, Science 2019,), and the central roles of germinal centers and memory in vaccine immunology (Cell 2019, Nature Medicine 2020). Dr. Crotty was a Pew Scholar and a 2016-2019 Highly Cited Researcher. His recent COVID-19 immunology work has become the highest attention getting Cell paper ever (Cell 2020; Nature Reviews Immunology 2020).
Moderator
Tomabu Adjobimey is Assistant Professor for Immunology at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin. With over 10 years of experience as a research group leader at the University Clinic of Bonn in Germany, he has an extensive background in parasitology and immunology. His group is conducting fundamental research into the mechanisms of helminth-induced immune regulation and their impact on disease severity and vaccine efficacy. He is the current President of the Benin Immunology Society (BIS) and elected Western Africa Regional Representative in the Executive Committee of the Federation of African Immunology Societies (FAIS).