Cross Talk on SARS-CoV-2 and Human Immunity

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now the leading cause of death globally. This review elaborated the human immune response to SARSCoV-2 and its immune evasion mechanisms as well as factors that determine the case fatality rate and effective immunity using articles selected from PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar and Science Direct that provided an in-depth knowledge of the immunopathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. Findings from the forty eligible reviewed articles revealed that the host-viral interaction to SARS-CoV-2 involves the recognition of SARS-CoV-2, recruitment of adaptor proteins and antigen presentation which activates both innate and adaptive immunity involved in inhibition of viral replication (interferons), destruction of virus-infected cells (natural killer cells and CD8 cells) and viral clearance. However, SARS-CoV-2 subverts human immunity using multiple strategies such as production of double membrane vesicles, repression of adaptor proteins, interferons and antigen presentation. Accumulating shreds of evidence have shown that several factors such as age, sex, comorbidities, obesity, and lifestyle factors affect immune responsiveness to SARS-CoV-2. Hence, better knowledge of the viral interactions with the host and factors determining prevalence and severity is fundamental to the management and development of effective and biocompatible prophylactic and therapeutic options.