Kesego Tapela, Diana Ahu Prah, Becky Tetteh, Franklin Nuokpem, Daniel Dosoo, Amin Coker, Frederick Kumi-Ansah, Emmanuella Amoako, Kissi Ohene Assah, Charlyne Kilba, Nancy Nyakoe, Darius Quansah, Sylvester Languon, Claudia Adzo Anyigba, Felix Ansah, Seth Agyeman, Irene Amoakoh Owusu, Kristan Schneider, William K. Ampofo, Joe Kimanthi Mutungi, Gloria Amegatcher, Yaw Aniweh, Gordon A. Awandare, Peter K. Quashie, Yaw Bediako
Summary
Ghana and other parts of West Africa have experienced lower COVID-19 mortality rates than other regions. This phenomenon has been hypothesized to be associated with previous exposure to infections such as malaria. This study investigated the immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the influence of previous malaria exposure. Blood samples were collected from individuals with asymptomatic or symptomatic COVID-19 (n = 217). A variety of assays were used to characterize the SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response, and malaria exposure was quantified using Plasmodium falciparum ELISA.
The study found evidence of attenuated immune responses to COVID-19 among asymptomatic individuals, with elevated proportions of non-classical monocytes and greater memory B cell activation. Symptomatic patients displayed higher P. falciparum-specific T cell recall immune responses, whereas asymptomatic individuals demonstrated elevated P. falciparum antibody levels. Summarily, this study suggests that P. falciparum exposure-associated immune modulation may contribute to reduced severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection among people living in malaria-endemic regions.
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