Thread by @SCOTTeHENSLEY

Our new paper showing that some humans possessed non-neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic is now up at @medrxivpreprint. Importantly, we find that these antibodies are not associated with SARS-CoV-2 protection. 1/7

medrxiv.org/content/10.110…

Our data have some similarities but some key differences with a paper published last week @ScienceMagazine. 2/7

science.sciencemag.org/content/early/…

In our study:
1. We did not find that kids had higher levels of pre-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive antibodies compared to adults.
2. We found that pre-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive antibodies were non-neutralizing. 3/7

3. Most importantly, we were able to measure Abs in a super unique cohort: individuals who donated serum prior to the pandemic who subsequently went on to become infected with SARS-CoV-2. Pre-pandemic cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2 Abs did not correlate with SARS-CoV-2 protection. 4/7

Our data seem consistent with this paper from @PaulBieniasz recently posted on @medrxiv 5/7

medrxiv.org/content/10.110…

It will be important for us to figure out why there are differences between our study and the @ScienceMagazine study. The @ScienceMagazine study looks really solid. Could there be geographical differences in HCoV exposures or other factors that we are not thinking about? 6/7

Great work lead by @NeAnder349 , Eileen Goodwin, Anurag Verma and our incredible team at @PennMedicine.

In the meantime, everyone should try to stay vigilant about social distancing and mask wearing until we can get these promising COVID-19 vaccines approved and distributed. 7/7