Scientists have found evidence of a protective effect against COVID-19 in humans up to four months after mild or asymptomatic coronavirus infection, giving hope for long-term efficacy of vaccines. The researcher, including those from Queen Mary University of London, analyzed antibody and T cell responses in 136 UK healthcare workers with mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. going back to March.
The study, published in the journal Science Immunology, found that 89 percent of health care workers surveyed were carrying neutral antibodies 16-18 weeks after infection. The team, which also included researchers from Imperial College London and University of London, UK, found that most workers had T cells that were capable of several different parts of the virus recognition.
However, they noted that the two responses did not always follow in harmony, with some individuals expressing T cell immunity but no evidence of antibodies, and vice versa. ” Our study of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers from London hospitals reveals that about 90 per cent of individuals have antibodies that prevent the virus, ” Joseph Gibbons, Queen Mary ‘s Postdoctoral Research Assistant, said.
” Even more encouragingly, in 66 per cent of healthcare workers we find that levels of these immune antibodies are high and that this strong antibody response is enhanced by T cells that we produce. ‘see deal with different parts of the virus,’ ‘Gibbons said. Describing the discovery as ” good news ”, he explained that if someone has been exposed to the coronary virus, there is a good chance that they will have developed antibodies and T cells that could provide some protection in case they encounter the virus again.
Much of the debate on immunosuppression has focused on the different roles of B cells, which produce antibodies, and T cells, white blood cells that help protect against viruses, -inline direct killing. The most recent study found that while antibody-mediated immune responses were generally enhanced by a T-cell response, more than half of health care workers had different antibody and T-cell responses.
The workers did not elicit a T cell response that was specific to proteins detected on the outer layer of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The research also found that T cell responses tended to be higher in those with the classical type, explaining the symptoms of COVID-19, while asymptomatic disease resulted in weaker T cell immunity than symptomatic disease. , but correlates with neutral antibody responses.
The new study also provides reassurance for vaccination efforts, suggesting that, even after a mild infection, individuals carry antibody and T cell immunity to many parts of the virus, known as epitopes. The researchers noted that although new changes appear, the changes in the virus do not appear within these epitopes and so it is hoped that the some worry-free immunity recognition.
” Our study in asymptomatic and mild cases provides a positive insight into the stability of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 after four months of infection, “said Corinna Pade, Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Queen Mary. the researchers note that it is an important finding because mild or even COVID-19-induced symptoms are very common and represent the majority of diseases in the community.
Such abundant immune responses also offer hope for the lasting efficacy of vaccines, ” Pade said.