Esteban Ballestar (@eballestar.bsky.social)

An ultra-early, transient interferon-associated innate immune response associates with protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection despite exposure Our interferon-associated signature of early SARS-CoV-2 infection characterises a subgroup of exposed, uninfected contacts in three independent cohorts who may have successfully aborted infection prior to induction of adaptive immunity. The earlier transient upregulation of signature genes in PCR-negative compared to PCR-positive CHIM volunteers suggests that ultra-early interferon-associated innate immune responses correlate with, and may contribute to, protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00511-5/fulltext