We analysed the immune response in acute ANDV-like HPS patients in Argentina from 2014 to 2019. This study cohort represents a unique collection of samples from different endemic regions in Argentina. Because HPS has low incidence, outbreaks provide unique opportunities to collect samples that avail the study of unexplored aspects of this disease. Our analysis was possible mainly due to two large outbreaks, one of which was driven by person-to-person transmission.
The phenotypic characterization of T cells in blood of acute HPS patients showed an altered CD4+-to-CD8+ ratio during the prodromal phase and high proportions of active T cells. However, the numbers of activated T cells did not associate with disease severity in our cohort. Also, we measured high viral loads in blood during the acute and early convalescent phases, offering evidence that the T-cell response was unable to resolve the infection during these phases of disease.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352396421005594?via%3Dihub