A series of new studies have revealed signs of strong and persistent immunity in people who develop a mild coronavirus infection, according to a report on Sunday.
The studies, which have yet to be peer-reviewed, revealed that antibodies and immune cells that could recognize the virus were apparently present months after infection. The findings may help to eliminate previous concerns about whether the virus could trick the immune system into having a poor memory of previous infections.
“This is exactly what you should be hoping for,” said Marion Pepper, an immunologist at the University of Washington who wrote one of the new studies for the New York Times. “All pieces are there to have a fully protective immune response.”
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While scientists have yet to predict how long the immune response will last, researchers who have been monitoring immune responses to the virus for months believe that recent findings are encouraging signs.
If these defense mechanisms are present, it means that the body has a good chance of shaking off the coronavirus once it is re-infected.
“This is very promising,” said Smita Iyer, an immunologist at the University of California. “This requires some optimism about herd immunity, and potentially a vaccine.”
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Pepper – who wrote one of the new studies – said the next step will confirm and provide evidence if humans can actually shed the coronavirus after being exposed a second time, the paper reported.
