T-cell response offers immunity “six months after infection”

SAccording to a new study, SARS–CoV-2, responsible for the disease COVID-19-19, induces strong and long-lasting cellular immunity after infection. This suggests that a second infection is unlikely and is an encouraging sign for vaccine development.

“Our study is the first in the world to show that robust cellular immunity remains six months later. infection in individuals who presented COVID-19-19 mild / moderate or asymptomatic“Said Professor Paul Moss, University of Birmingham, quoted by The Guardian. The teacher directs the Coronavirus UK Immunology Consortium that studied 100 healthcare professionals who infected at the beginning of pandemic.

According to the researchers, these findings are an encouraging sign for the development of vaccines that aim to induce immunity without causing disease. Furthermore, they suggest that few people will be reinfected with the virus SARS–CoV-2, just after the first infection.

The human immune response to infection The virus is extremely complex and involves the production of antibodies and cells, mainly T cells, to fight the virus. Other research showed that antibody levels generally decline rapidly after patients recover. Rather, the results of the new study “show that T-cell responses may outlast the initial antibody response, which could have a significant impact on vaccine development and the pursuit of immunity,” he said. . Shame Ladhani, Public Health England epidemiologist and author of the research.

To reach this conclusion, the United Kingdom Coronavirus The Immunology Consortium analyzed the blood of 100 health professionals who tested positive for the virus during March me April44 had no symptoms and 56 had mild or moderate respiratory symptoms, but none were ill enough to need hospital treatment.

All 100 blood samples had T cells managed to a variety of proteins in the SARS–CoV-2, including the spike protein that the virus uses to enter human cells. In contrast, antibody levels in some people have dropped to levels undetectable in six months.

The size of the cellular response varied markedly between individuals. On average, it was 50 percent higher in people with symptoms than in those with asymptomatic six months before.

More research is needed to find out if this elevated cellular immunity provides more protection against reinfection in people with more severe symptoms.

Please note that the findings have not yet been peer reviewed.

Also read: Mutation of coronavirus Made it even more contagious, study warns