Cited by 55SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchImmune responses and vaccinationsAnimal Virus Infections Studies

Cross-immunity between respiratory coronaviruses may limit COVID-19 fatalities

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Yaqinuddin, Ahmed·2020·Medical Hypotheses

Abstract

Of the seven coronaviruses associated with disease in humans, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 cause considerable mortality but also share significant sequence homology, and potentially antigenic epitopes capable of inducing an immune response. The degree of similarity is such that perhaps prior exposure to one virus could confer partial immunity to another. Indeed, data suggests a considerable amount of cross-reactivity and recognition by the hosts immune response between different coronavirus infections. While the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak rapidly overwhelmed medical facilities of particularly Europe and North America, accounting for 78% of global deaths, only 8% of deaths have occurred in Asia where the outbreak originated. Interestingly, Asia and the Middle East have previously experienced multiple rounds of coronavirus infections, perhaps suggesting buildup of acquired immunity to the causative SARS-CoV-2 that underlies COVID-19. This article hypothesizes that a causative factor underlying such low morbidity in these regions is perhaps (at least in part) due to acquired immunity from multiple rounds of coronavirus infections and discusses the mechanisms and recent evidence to support such assertions. Further investigations of such phenomenon would allow us to examine strategies to confer protective immunity, perhaps aiding vaccine development.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110049

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Authors
Yaqinuddin, A.
Affiliations
Alfaisal University (SA)
Corresponding author
Yaqinuddin, Ahmed
Venue
Medical Hypotheses
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-11
Volume
144
Pages
110049
ISSN
0306-9877 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3038761805
Cited by
55
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 9
FWCI
1.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Medical Hypotheses (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Ministeriet Sundhed Forebyggelse (951)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune responses and vaccinations
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Virus Infections Studies
Keywords
cross-immunity, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 mortality, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, antigenic determinants, sequence homology, adaptive immunity, vaccine development
MeSH terms
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Antigens, Cross Reactions, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Immune System, Immunity, Apoptosis, Coronavirus Infections, Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte, Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Adaptive Immunity, Cross Protection, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

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