Immune responses in convalescent Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID19 individuals

Summary

A critical gap in knowledge is our understanding of the immune responses in asymptomatic COVID-19 positive individuals.  The University of Cambridge has an extensive asymptomatic testing programme of the student population this approach has also been adopted by Universities of Nottingham and Cardiff. This is a unique opportunity to study the immunology of asymptomatic (ASI) v symptomatic (SSI) individuals by recruiting people via the COVID19 testing pods into this research project. In the first phase of the project we aim to recruit up to 600 volunteers and collect blood and saliva samples from both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals.  This will take place from January 2021 Until March 2021 when students return to campus; a key period in the pandemic likely to be associated with the third peak of disease and will provide a baseline data set on which to build a longitudinal study.  We will undertake a longitudinal study following a set of these individuals enabling us to examine the kinetics of both antibody immune responses T cell memory and function.  In addition, during the period of the research COVID19 vaccination may become widely available, enabling additional comprehensive analysis of immune responses both pre- and post- vaccination.  This combination of examining both antibody and T cell immunity will provide insight into the role of the immune system in driving pathology and protection.