SARS-CoV-2 Specific Antibody Responses and Impact for COVID-19 Disease in Health Care Worker and Community Members From Ethiopian Related to Natural SARS CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Vaccination

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted health systems, interventions for infection control and resulting preventive public life restrictions. In a recent study, we determined high rates of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care worker (over 70%) and communities in Ethiopia (up to 60%), with resulting potential natural acquired SARS-CoV-2 specific immunity. In contrast to the situation in Europe, the scale out of COVID-19 vaccination is however very low, and currently there is a scarcity of COVID-19 vaccines available all over Africa. Naturally acquired or vaccine induced SARS-CoV-2 immune responses have shown to protect against (severe) COVID-19 disease. However, immune responses are waning over time and new SARS-CoV-2 viral variants increasingly demonstrate immune escape properties. Correlates of clinical immune protections are currently investigated including binding SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG or neutralizing antibody levels, as well as cellular immune responses. However, threshold of immune protection are not yet defined that would guide the need of booster vaccinations, including for individuals with natural acquired immunity. There is evidence, that vaccination regimens in those individuals could be abbreviated to single shot booster, that would greatly economize challenged COVID-19 strategies in Africa.

The CoVICIS is a network of European and African researcher who collaborate on the overall objective to investigate SARS-CoV-2 specific immune response and correlates of immune protection in the context of circulating SARS-CoV-2 viral variants. In this affiliated study, we aim to investigate these outcomes in Ethiopian health care worker and community members throughout a longitudinal, prospective cohort study. Participants, stratified according to their SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination status, will be followed-up in 3-monthly intervals To characterize SARS CoV-2 strain specific immune response (SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG) in health care workers and general populations stratified by previous (1) SARS CoV-2 exposure (SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid antibody positive versus negative) and (2) vaccination status at the Jimma Medical Center (JMC) and the St. Paul Hospital in Addis Ababa in association to clinical immune protection and Covid-19 disease. Prevalence, incidence, and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies as well as clinical assessments will be performed in 3-monthly intervals over a maximum period of 24 months.

At each study visits, immune responses including SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG and neutralizing antibody will be measured. In addition, SARS CoV-2-specific T cell responses will be studied in each of the study groups. COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 infections will be assessed throughout the study by clinical history, SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics, and seroconversion of SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid antibody testing as appropriate. In addition, more in-depth analysis will be performed in a subset of stored blood samples at collaborating specialized laboratories in Germany and Switzerland, including peptide array mapping, T-cell assays and affinity/avidity analysis against the ACE-II receptor. We further aim to characterize circulating SARS CoV-2 strains from PCR isolates in the context of investigated immune responses. Outcome results will be provided for computational analysis, integrating models for immune protection. Finally, we will explore the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of abbreviated single shot COVID-19 vaccination for individuals with pre-existing natural immunity to assess COVID-19 vaccine strategies that are especially applicable in African settings.

Findings from this study aim to help in guiding the current Covid-19 control strategy in Ethiopia. It might also give the first insight about the dynamics and level of antibodies produced against SARS-CoV-2 in the Ethiopian population.