SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection: Microbial Minutes
What do we know about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, and how do neutralizing antibodies correlate with immunity to the virus?
What's Hot in the Microbial Sciences?
ASM presents Microbial Minutes, a monthly video series of trending topics in the microbial sciences.Since the novel coronavirus emerged in late 2019, scientists have been discussing the possibility of long-term immunity to this virus. Whether or not someone can become infected with SARS-CoV-2 more than once is important because if protective immunity is naturally produced, we have a greater chance of fighting and preventing the disease through adaptive immune responses and vaccination. Here we dive into the research that evaluates SARS-CoV-2 reinfection potential and risk. The papers and key take-away points discussed in this Microbial Minutes are listed below.
Can you become infected with SARS-CoV-2 more than once? ​
Addetia A. et al. Neutralizing Antibodies Correlate with Protection from SARS-CoV-2 in Humans during a Fishery Vessel Oubreak with High Attack Rate.What does reinfection with other, more familiar viruses look like?
Gershon A.A. et al. Varicella zoster virus infection.How the Flu Virus Can Change: "Drift" and "Shift."
How likely is SARS-CoV-2 reinfection to occur?
Abu-Raddad L.J. et al. Assessment of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in an intense re-exposure setting.Take-Away Points
- SARS-CoV-2 reinfection is possible.
- Neutralizing antibodies are correlated with protection from reinfection.
- Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 seems to be uncommon for at least a few months post primary infection.
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