Immune transcriptomes of highly exposed SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic seropositive versus seronegative individuals from the Ischgl community.
Hye Kyung Lee, Ludwig Knabl, Lisa Pipperger, Andre Volland, Priscilla A Furth, Keunsoo Kang, Harold E Smith, Ludwig Knabl, Romuald Bellmann, Christina Bernhard, Norbert Kaiser, Hannes Gänzer, Mathias Ströhle, Andreas Walser, Dorothee von Laer, Lothar Hennighausen
Author Information
Hye Kyung Lee: Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
Ludwig Knabl: Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology & Institute of Virology, Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. ludwig.knabl@tyrolpath.at.
Lisa Pipperger: Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology & Institute of Virology, Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Andre Volland: Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology & Institute of Virology, Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Priscilla A Furth: Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Keunsoo Kang: Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
Harold E Smith: Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
Ludwig Knabl: Krankenhaus St.Vinzenz Zams, 6511 Zams, Austria.
Romuald Bellmann: Clinical Pharmacokinetics Unit, Division of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Christina Bernhard: Hospital Kufstein, 6330 Kufstein, Austria.
Norbert Kaiser: Bezirkskrankenhaus St. Johann in Tirol, 6380 St. Johann in Tirol, Austria.
Hannes Gänzer: Bezirkskrankenhaus Schwaz, 6130 Schwaz, Austria.
Mathias Ströhle: Intensive Care, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Andreas Walser: Ordination (Private Practice), 6561 Ischgl, Austria.
Dorothee von Laer: Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology & Institute of Virology, Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Public Health, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Lothar Hennighausen: Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA. lotharh@niddk.nih.gov.
SARS-CoV-2 infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe with lingering symptomatology in some. This prompted investigation of whether or not asymptomatic disease results in measurable immune activation post-infection. Immune activation following asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was characterized through a comparative investigation of the immune cell transcriptomes from 43 asymptomatic seropositive and 52 highly exposed seronegative individuals from the same community 4-6 weeks following a superspreading event. Few of the 95 individuals had underlying health issues. One seropositive individual reported Cystic Fibrosis and one individual reported Incontinentia pigmenti. No evidence of immune activation was found in asymptomatic seropositive individuals with the exception of the Cystic Fibrosis patient. There were no statistically significant differences in immune transcriptomes between asymptomatic seropositive and highly exposed seronegative individuals. Four positive controls, mildly symptomatic seropositive individuals whose blood was examined 3 weeks following infection, showed immune activation. Negative controls were four seronegative individuals from neighboring communities without COVID-19. All individuals remained in their usual state of health through a five-month follow-up after sample collection. In summary, whole blood transcriptomes identified individual immune profiles within a community population and showed that asymptomatic infection within a super-spreading event was not associated with enduring immunological activation.
