Longitudinal antibody and T cell responses in Ebola virus disease survivors and contacts: an observational cohort study
Observational cohort study of 117 survivors of Ebola virus disease, 66 contacts, and 23 negative controls found continuous high titres of neutralising antibodies and increased T cell response supporting the concept of long-term protective immunity in survivors.
Source:
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
SPS commentary:
A commentary piece discusses this research and concludes on the one hand, sufficient clinical and immunological data accumulated from survivors of the 2013–16 West African Ebola epidemic in favour of acquired immunity to Ebola virus lasting at least a few years after a natural infection. On the other hand, studies of correlates of protection for Ebola vaccines that support an induced immunity have, so far, only followed patients for up to 6 months. Natural acquired immunity could provide protection to people who have been exposed to and infected with Ebola virus for at least a few years, even if antibody concentrations decrease with time, owing to backup memory B cells and cellular immunity.