PhD defence by Elias Frost Wiwe

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen and Antibody Kinetics - Infection, Vaccination, and Long-Term Immunity

Assessment Committee:
Professor Thomas Lars Benfield, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Professor Martin Tolstrup, University of Aarhus
Professor Heli Harvala, University of Turku

Supervisors:
Clinical Professor Thea Kølsen Fischer
Associate professor Thore Hillig
MD, PhD Young Bae Villy Lee Hansen
Clinical Professor Zitta F B Barrella Harboe
Clinical Associate Professor Casper Roed

Department:
Department of Public Health

Graduate Programme:
Immunology and Infectious Diseases

Place:
Indgang 50b, Room: Auditoriet, Nordsjællands Hospital, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hillerød

Email address to gain access to the thesis: elias.frost.wiwe@dadlnet.dk 
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.

Short description of the thesis:
The thesis concerns clinical laboratory research on COVID-19 based on the "North Zealand COVID-19 Cohort", a local laboratory-based cohort of approximately 3,000 infected individuals. The studies are based on analyses of thousands of biobank samples combined with national registry data and advanced statistical modeling.

The first study shows that different antibody assays may produce substantial measurement differences, particularly early in the disease course.
The second study demonstrates a gradual association between antibody levels and protection against reinfection, without a clear protective threshold.
The third study shows that circulating viral protein in hospitalized patients is associated with persistent inflammation and increased mortality.

Overall, the thesis contributes to a more nuanced understanding of immunity, disease course, and biomarkers in COVID-19.