Heliyon (Jan 2021)

Understanding the implications of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections on immune response milieu, laboratory tests and control measures against COVID-19

  • Jelili Olaide Mustapha,
  • Idris Nasir Abdullahi,
  • Odunayo O.R. Ajagbe,
  • Anthony Uchenna Emeribe,
  • Samuel Ayobami Fasogbon,
  • Solomon Oloche Onoja,
  • Charles Egede Ugwu,
  • Chikodi Modesta Umeozuru,
  • Folake Olubunmi Ajayi,
  • Wudi Natasha Tanko,
  • Pius Omoruyi Omosigho,
  • Abdulmumuni Samuel Aliyu,
  • Halima Ali Shuwa,
  • Justin Onyebuchi Nwofe,
  • Amos Dangana,
  • Ovye Alaba,
  • Peter Elisha Ghamba,
  • Yakubu Ibrahim,
  • Dorcas Aliyu,
  • Olawale Sunday Animasaun,
  • Nkechi Blessing Ugboaja,
  • Mala Alhaji Baba Mallam,
  • Sharafudeen Dahiru Abubakar,
  • Maijidda Saidu Aminu,
  • Hadiza Yahaya,
  • Silifat Oyewusi

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. e05951

Abstract

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Several months after the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), cases of re-infection after recovery were reported. The extent and duration of protective immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection is not fully understood. As such, the possibility of re-infection with SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, cases of re-infection were mainly due to different variants or mutant SARS-CoV-2. Following the fast and pandemic-scale spread of COVID-19, mutations in SARS-CoV-2 have raised new diagnostic challenges which include the redesign of the oligonucleotide sequences used in RT-PCR assays to avoid potential primer–sample mismatches, and decrease sensitivities. Since the initial wave of the pandemic, some regions had experienced fresh outbreaks, predisposing people to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 re-infection. Hence, this article sought to offer detailed biology of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections and their implications on immune response milieu, diagnostic laboratory tests and control measures against COVID-19.

Keywords