This is a prospective adaptive cohort study of St. Jude employees to determine the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections that are asymptomatic and to evaluate immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Primary Objectives - To estimate the proportion of asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a population of SARS-CoV-2-naïve adult St. Jude employees - To comprehensively map CD4 and CD8 T cell epitopes and response magnitudes to SARS-CoV-2 infection in a population of SARS-CoV-2-naïve adult St. Jude employees who acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection - To measure changes in the CD4 and CD8 response magnitude and function to SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination in a population of St. Jude employees for up to 48 months after infection and/or vaccination. Secondary Objectives - To establish seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies at baseline, and identify the rate of seroconversion to SARS-CoV-2 in a population of presumably naïve adult St. Jude employees - To identify features of T cell responses at baseline and during SARS-CoV-2 infection that are associated with protection against symptomatic or severe COVID-19 disease in a population of adult St. Jude employees - To identify risk factors for long-term protection against COVID-19 in a population of adult St. Jude employees - To evaluate changes in antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in a population of St. Jude employees for up to 48 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination. - To evaluate the saliva antibody and cytokine response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination and identify characteristics that predict protection from subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection among a population of St. Jude employees followed for up to 48 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination. - To measure changes in saliva antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 for up to 48 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination. Exploratory Objectives - To establish additional immunological features including host immune or receptor polymorphisms associated with response to SARS-CoV-2 infection - To explore SARS-CoV-2 diversity and specific features in a circumscribed population - To describe the presence, characteristics, and proportion of short-term re-infection - To determine if an association between SARS-CoV-2 viral load in nasal swab specimens and COVID-19 symptoms can be identified in a population of adult St. Jude employees who acquire SARS-CoV-2 - To explore the laboratory and clinical response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in a population of adult St. Jude employees with and without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Naive individuals will contribute a baseline blood sample at enrollment. Subsequent routine
blood draws will occur to determine the proportion of participants who have asymptomatically
seroconverted; the timing of these blood draws and proportion of participants required will
be determined by the rate of documented SARS-CoV-2 infection in the cohort according to an
adaptive study design. Participants will be tracked for SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies and
CD4, and CD8 T cell responses throughout the period and especially during the early stages
after clearance of infection and subsequently to determine the quality and duration of memory
responses.
In addition to blood samples, participants will intermittently provide nasal swabs for
detection of SARS-CoV-2; this will occur either through a comprehensive proactive employee
screening program, or specifically for the purposes of the research study if participants are
required to attend campus but are not currently eligible for employee screening. These will
determine duration and characteristics of viral shedding and identify reinfection.
Seroprevalence estimates and asymptomatic conversion will also be determined.
Individuals with a diagnosis of COVID-19 infection will have two additional blood draws in
the acute and convalescent phase to identify acute and late immune responses. These responses
will be compared to the essential baseline sample data to characterize the generation of de
novo and cross-reactive recall responses.
For those participants receiving vaccination, blood draws will be taken after COVID vaccine
(3-8 weeks after completion of 1 or 2 dose course) and at completion of study.
At enrollment, subjects will complete a baseline online personal health and demographic
questionnaire, and then monthly brief online health update questionnaires. Throughout the
study period, subjects will complete a brief online symptom survey every 2 weeks.
Participants in the original SJTRC study will be asked to reconsent to complete a one-time
questionnaire regarding their COVID-19 experience specifically during the time since they
went off study. Once this questionnaire is complete, they will be taken off study and receive
no further questionnaires related to the original study.
A subset of participants will be invited to re-enroll in a long-term follow-up phase to
evaluate long-term immunity and protection against COVID-19 following infection and
vaccination. Participants will provide blood samples every 6 months. They will also be
invited to provide additional acute and convalescent samples (blood and saliva), if diagnosed
with acute COVID-19 during this period. Participants will continue to complete regular
questionnaires, but the frequency will decrease to 6 monthly (health questionnaires) and as
needed (COVID-19 diagnosis or vaccination).
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Adult St. Jude employees (Age ≥ 18 years of age) who are presumed to be SARS- CoV-2
naive, or have a recent diagnosis of COVID-19, and volunteer to participate.
2. Willing to undergo blood draws on up to 5 occasions during the study.
3. Receiving approximately twice-weekly SARS-CoV-2 screening by Occupational Health, or
willing to provide up to twice weekly nasal self-swabs if attending campus.
4. Have access to a personal smartphone that is able to receive and respond to text
messages for data collection.
5. Has ready access to the internet to log personal study information into the REDCap
database.
6. Self-identified as able to speak and read English well enough to understand the
consent process and survey forms, and to report symptoms.
Inclusion Criteria for LTFU arm:
1. Adult St. Jude employees (age ≥ 18 years of age) who participated in the original
SJTRC study.
2. Willing to undergo blood draws on up to five occasions during the LTFU arm. Willing to
provide saliva samples at acute and convalescent episodes.
3. Have access to a personal smartphone that is able to receive and respond to text
messages for data collection.
4. Have ready access to the internet to log personal study information into the REDCap
database.
5. Self-identified as able to speak and read English well enough to understand the
consent process and questionnaires, and to report symptoms.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Employees who are first-degree relatives of, or directly or indirectly report up to,
the PI or any of the clinical study investigators who will have access to participant
identities.
2. Employees who cannot complete the informed consent process.
Exclusion Criteria for LTFU arm:
1. Employees who did not participate in the original SJTRC study.
2. Employees who cannot complete the informed consent process.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Paul G. Thomas, PhD, Principal Investigator
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital