Use of convalescent serum reduces severity of COVID-19 in nonhuman primates

Robert W. Cross; Abhishek N. Prasad; Viktoriya Borisevich; Courtney Woolsey; Krystle N. Agans; Daniel J. Deer; Natalie S. Dobias; Joan B. Geisbert; Karla A. Fenton; Thomas W. Geisbert

Cell Reports (Mar 2021)

Use of convalescent serum reduces severity of COVID-19 in nonhuman primates

Robert W. Cross,
Abhishek N. Prasad,
Viktoriya Borisevich,
Courtney Woolsey,
Krystle N. Agans,
Daniel J. Deer,
Natalie S. Dobias,
Joan B. Geisbert,
Karla A. Fenton,
Thomas W. Geisbert

Affiliations

Robert W. Cross: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Abhishek N. Prasad: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Viktoriya Borisevich: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Courtney Woolsey: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Krystle N. Agans: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Daniel J. Deer: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Natalie S. Dobias: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Joan B. Geisbert: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Karla A. Fenton: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Thomas W. Geisbert: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 34, no. 10
p. 108837

Abstract

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Summary: Passive transfer of convalescent plasma or serum is a time-honored strategy for treating infectious diseases. Human convalescent plasma containing antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently being used to treat patients with coronavirus disease 2019 where clinical efficacy trials are ongoing. Here, we assess therapeutic passive transfer in groups of SARS-CoV-2-infected African green monkeys with convalescent sera containing either high or low anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers. Differences in viral load and pathology are minimal between monkeys that receive the lower titer convalescent sera and untreated controls. However, lower levels of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory compartments, reduced severity of virus-associated lung pathology, and reductions in coagulopathy and inflammatory processes are observed in monkeys that receive high titer sera versus untreated controls. Our data indicate that convalescent plasma therapy in humans may be an effective strategy provided that donor sera contain high anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing titers given in early stages of the disease.

Published in Cell Reports

ISSN: 2211-1247 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General)
Website: http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/home

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