Pre-pandemic Cross-Reactive Antibody and Cellular Responses Against SARS-CoV-2 Among Female Sex Workers in Dakar, Senegal

This study investigates pre-pandemic antibody and cellular immune responses cross-reactive to SARS-CoV-2 among female sex workers in Dakar, Senegal. Using stored biological samples collected before the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors assess evidence of immune responses potentially generated through prior exposure to endemic coronaviruses or other pathogens. The findings contribute to understanding preexisting immunity, cross-reactivity, and immune heterogeneity in populations with diverse infectious disease exposures, with implications for pandemic preparedness and global infectious disease research.