Patients recovering from coronavirus infections can lose their immunity to reinfection in a matter of months, according to research published Monday that experts say could have a “significant” influence on how governments handle the pandemic.
© Pablo PORCIUNCULA
Blood tests showed that even people with mild symptoms of COVID-19 increased their immune response to the virus, however, antibody levels decreased over time.
In the first such study, a team led by researchers at King’s College London examined antibody levels in more than 90 confirmed virus patients and how they changed over time.
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Blood tests showed that even people with mild symptoms of COVID-19 increased their immune response to the virus.
Of the study group, 60 percent showed a “potent” viral response in the first few weeks after infection.
However, after three months, only 16.7 percent had maintained high levels of COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies, and after 90 days, several patients had no detectable antibodies in the bloodstream.
When the body encounters external danger, like a virus, it mobilizes the cells to locate and kill the culprit.
As it does so, it produces proteins known as antibodies that are programmed to attack the specific antigen that the body is fighting, like a key cut for a particular block.
As long as someone has enough antibodies, they can clear new infections, giving them immunity.
But Monday’s research suggests that immunity cannot be taken for granted and cannot last more than a few months, as is the case with other viruses such as influenza.
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Experts said the findings may change how governments plan for the next phase of the pandemic, including how they fund and organize vaccine research and development.
“This is an important study beginning to define the long-term dynamics of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2,” said Lawrence Young, professor of Molecular Oncology at the University of Warwick, using the full name of the strain of the virus.
“It further underscores the need for us to better understand what a protective immune response looks like if we want to develop an effective vaccine,” said Young, who was not involved in the research.
James Gill, an honorary clinical professor at the Warwick School of Medicine, said the research reiterated the need for everyone to continue taking steps to mitigate the spread of the virus, particularly early in the holiday season in Europe.
“In the same way that these patients were surprised to have antibodies against COVID19, we should NOT be surprised if any protective benefit is mild, or at least transient,” he said.
“If you played the lottery and won £ 10, you wouldn’t immediately think that you have acquired greater natural luck and that you have used your life savings to buy more lottery tickets.”
“Even those with a positive antibody test, especially those who cannot explain where they may have been exposed, should continue with caution, social distancing, and appropriate use of masks.”
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