Locally harvested Covid-19 convalescent plasma could probably help combat the geographically determined SARS-CoV-2 viral variants

Abstract

The only effective way to provide individuals with herd immunity against the novel coronavirus [SARS-CoV-2] is to administer an effective vaccine that will help check the current pandemic status. In India, the central drugs standard control organization (CDSCO) has granted the emergency-use authorization [EUA] to three vaccines namely, Covishield (live vaccine, Oxford AstraZeneca, United Kingdom being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India), Covaxin (inactivated vaccine, Bharat Biotech, India) and Sputnik V (live vaccine, Gamaleya, Russia). However, there is a rising need for the efficacy of the vaccines to be proven against the “SARS-CoV-2 viral variants.” Also, human plasma is polyclonal in nature with an inherent propensity to identify multiple epitopes of either an antigen or pathogen. With this context in mind, the researchers hypothesize that using COVID-19 convalescent plasma [CCP] harvested from the locally recovered individuals [i.e. potential CCP donors] may be particularly beneficial in combating not only the founder SARS-CoV-2 virus but also the geographically confined SARS-CoV-2 variants among the regionally affected COVID-19 patients.

Multi‐institutional experience with COVID‐19 convalescent plasma in children

“…Another argument for CCP is that it exhibits a more dynamic change than monoclonal antibodies as recovered donors are exposed to different variants. One study suggested that locally collected CCP may exhibit better activity against variants circulating in the region 12 . However, CCP units that were collected during infection waves linked to older variants may have decreased effectiveness so fresher units are preferred over older collections 13 .…”

“…One study suggested that locally collected CCP may exhibit better activity against variants circulating in the region. 12 However, CCP units that were collected during infection waves linked to older variants may have decreased effectiveness so fresher units are preferred over older collections. 13 Although all CCP units are collected and undergo antibody titer testing according to FDA guidelines, 5 there are differences in how various immunoassays correlate with neutralizing antibody levels, which are often used as a surrogate marker for effectiveness.…”

Evaluation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response to COVID-19 vaccine deployment in the Bono Region, Ghana

“…As such they serve as an ideal target for vaccine development aimed at minimizing the spread of the disease (8)(9)(10)(11). As a result, the antibody response to spike protein post-vaccination is critical for adjudging the 'effectiveness' of the vaccine (12). The detectable levels of IgM and IgG antibodies could provide information regarding seroconversion, as the detection of IgM antibodies indicates a recent exposure whereas the detection of IgG antibodies in the absence of detectable IgM antibodies indicates long-term immunity against the virus (13).…”