Nilles EJ, Siddiqui SM, Fischinger S, Bartsch YC, de Saint Aubin M, Zhou G, Gluck MJ, Berger S, Rhee J, Petersen E, Mormann B, Loesche M, Chen Z, Yu J, Gebre M, Atyeo C, Gorman MJ, Lee Zhu A, Burke J, Slein M, Hasdianda MA, Jambaulikar G, Boyer E, Sabeti P, Barouch DH, Julg BD, Kucharski AJ, Musk ER, Lauffenburger DA, Alter G, and Menon AS
Obesity is a key correlate of severe SARS-CoV-2 outcomes while the role of obesity on risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, symptom phenotype, and immune response are poorly defined. We examined data from a prospective SARS-CoV-2 cohort study to address these questions. Serostatus, body mass index, demographics, comorbidities, and prior COVID-19 compatible symptoms were assessed at baseline and serostatus and symptoms monthly thereafter. SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays included an IgG ELISA targeting the spike RBD, multiarray Luminex targeting 20 viral antigens, pseudovirus neutralization, and T cell ELISPOT assays. Our results from a large prospective SARS-CoV-2 cohort study indicate symptom phenotype is strongly influenced by obesity among younger but not older age groups; we did not identify evidence to suggest obese individuals are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection; and, remarkably homogenous immune activity across BMI categories suggests natural- and vaccine-induced protection may be similar across these groups.