Recovered patients less likely to relapse, Covid variant: A study

People who survive COVID-19 have been protected against the novel coronavirus for at least six months, and possibly much longer, according to a study that says the immune system will grow long after the disease and could even form of the virus such as the South African Variant.

The research, published in the journal Nature, noted that antibodies are secreted by immune cells that keep them growing, presumably as a result of the continuation of remnants of the virus hidden in the gut gland.

According to the scientists, including those from Rockefeller University in the USA, the study provides the “strongest evidence yet” that the immune system “remembers” the virus. and, surprisingly, continue to improve the quality of antibodies even after the disease has subsided. They suspect that when patients who have contracted the virus encounter, the response would be both faster and more effective, preventing relapse.

“This is very exciting news. The type of immune response we see here can provide protection for a long time, allowing the body to respond quickly and effectively to the virus when it is re-exposed, ”says Michel C. Nussenzweig. , co-author of the study from Rockefeller University.

While antibodies against coronavirus accumulate in the blood plasma for several weeks or months, earlier studies have shown that their levels drop dramatically over time. However, the researchers showed that instead of making antibodies all the time, the immune system produces B memory cells that recognize the coronavirus, which quickly spreads a new cycle of antibodies when encountered a second time. Because the novel coronavirus reproduces in the cells of the lungs, upper neck, and small intestine, they suspect that viral fragments left hidden within these cigarettes may lead to micro- memory cells grew B. According to the researchers, it was better for these antibodies to react tightly to the virus, and to recognize sporadic versions of it.