Despite initial fears, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemics impact in sub-Sahara Africa has been less serious than anticipated. Possible reasons for this relative protection from SARS-CoV-2 include prior or current malaria infection, or other host factors like worm co-infection.
This project will used human clinical samples collected from an NIH funded observational study to investigate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in Malawians. T and B cell responses during and following infection and vaccination will be assessed in a large cohort of individuals. Responses will be compared to Australian adults, and the impact of host co-infections assess.
Understanding immune development to SARS-CoV-2 in the context of areas of high malaria transmission will inform future COVID-19 control strategies and underlying immune development.