In response to anti-CD3, anti-CD28, poly I:C, and SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike S1 protein, whole blood cultures revealed that the percentage of CD3+CD8+IL-2+ T cells exhibited a significant 5-fold decrease in the group that posteriorly developed severe COVID-19 compared to participants with mild symptoms (P = 0.0085) (Figure 3B). The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is COVID-19.