Prior Coronavirus Infection May Affect COVID-19 Severity

摘要

Patients with a confirmed recent endemic human coronavirus infection have a milder course of COVID-19. Why the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 vary so markedly remains one of the most important unanswered questions in addressing this pandemic. Because four other endemic coronaviruses (eCoVs) cause human illness, one potential explanation is that recent infection with one of the eCoVs induces partial immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and thereby modulates the course of disease.