Lack of neutralizing activity in nonconvalescent sera, regardless of ABO blood group and anti-A isoagglutinin titer.

Abstract

Background:

Several ABO blood groups have been associated with the likelihood of infection, severity, and/or outcome of COVID-19 in hospitalized cohorts, raising the hypothesis that anti-A isoagglutinins in non-A-group recipients could act as neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Materials and methods:

We run live virus neutralization tests using sera from 58 SARS-CoV-2 seronegative blood donors (27 O-group and 31 A-group) negatives for SARS-CoV-2 IgG to investigate what degree of neutralizing activity could be detected in their sera and eventual correlation with anti-A isoagglutinin titers.

Results:

We could not find clinically relevant neutralizing activity in any blood group, regardless of anti-isoagglutinin titer.

Discussion:

Our findings suggest that mechanisms other than neutralization explain the differences in outcomes from COVID19 seen in different ABO blood groups.

• Authors: Daniele Focosi, Alfredo Rosellini, Pietro Giorgio Spezia, Lisa Macera, Maria Lanza, Aldo Paolicchi, Denise Biagini, Andreina Baj, Mauro Pistello, Fabrizio Maggi
• Journal: Journal of clinical virology plus (J Clin Virol Plus) Vol. 1 Issue 3 Pg. 100035 (Sep 2021) ISSN: 2667-0380 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35262018 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s).