[ad_1]
SYDNEY, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) – Australian researchers have developed a prototype test that can predict whether a patient’s immune system has the ability to fight COVID-19.
Researchers from the QIMR Berghofer Institute for Medical Research said Tuesday that high levels of two key chemical signals produced by T cells were detected when immune cells recognize and destroy cells infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Study leader and director of QIMR Berghofer’s Human and Translational Immunology Group, Associate Professor Corey Smith, explained that T-cell responses are an important indicator, as they arise earlier and last longer than antibody immunity.
“T cells produce a variety of signaling molecules when they fight viruses. These signaling molecules are basically indicators of whether the T cells are responding to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and are mobilizing the immune army to launch an attack,” he said Smith. “If we can find a way to detect whether they are present or not, then we can find out if a patient’s immune system is responding as it should.”
The research team isolated T cells from blood samples donated by 44 recovered COVID-19 patients and 20 healthy donors, exposed them to viral peptides, and measured the production of several different signaling molecules.
The researchers examined a variety of SARS-CoV-2 peptides to determine which combination could be used to stimulate T cells in the laboratory.
“We found that T cells from people who had recovered from COVID-19 produced higher amounts of the signaling molecules interferon gamma and interleukin-2, which are involved in killing virus-infected cells and encouraging other T cells to get to the infected area. “said Smith.
The research article has been published in the journal Clinical and Translational Immunology.
First author Dr. Katie Lineburg, a researcher at QIMR Berghofer, said the information could be used to develop a blood test for an early immune response to the virus, helping countries experiencing a second or third wave of infections.
“A blood test could help doctors identify patients whose T cells have not started to generate an immune response and who are therefore not fighting the virus and are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill,” Lineburg said. .
“Those patients could be more closely monitored to ensure they get treatment early, rather than waiting until they experience severe symptoms.” Final product
