Is a long-term T-cell memory established during SARS-CoV-2
infection?
Three SARS-recovered individuals, 9- and 11-years post-infection, were
analyzed for T-cell responses against 550 SARS-CoV peptides that may
share homology with MERS-CoV. SARS-specific memory T cells persisted at
9 and 11 years post-SARS infection in the absence of antigen
exposure.63 Based on these data, it is likely that
specific SARS-CoV-2 epitopes elicit a persistent T cell response, which
may also confer protection against other ‘common cold’
coronaviruses.62 However, long-term studies on the
natural history of SARS-CoV-2 infection are pending.