COVID-19 Cured Patients Develop Immune Response Similar to Many Scientists Wanted to Vaccine, US Researchers See “Good News” for Vaccine Development .
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After analyzing the blood of 20 adults who have successfully fought the disease, researchers at the California Institute of Immunology in La Jolla concluded that the immune system of the human body does recognize the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.
More specifically, they found immune cells, T cells, which contribute to the body’s defenses. 100% of individuals had cells called “CD4”, which help produce antibodies, while 70% had cells called CD8, which kill infected cells.
“robust” response
In addition, this immune response appears to be directed to the famous tip-shaped proteins found on the surface of the new coronavirus. However, it is precisely this part of the virus that several laboratories want to attack in search of a vaccine to curb the pandemic. However, the study does not provide any indication of the strength of this immunity or its duration.
“If we had only seen marginal immune responses, we would have been worried, but what we are seeing is a very robust T-cell response against the peak protein, which is the target of most of the ongoing efforts against COVID-19 […]. These results are really good news for vaccine development, ”says Professor Alessandro Sette, in an article by this San Diego institute.
Crossed immunity
Interestingly, in this study published ten days ago by the journal Cell, the researchers also analyzed 20 other samples collected from 2015 to 2018, well before the start of the current pandemic. However, between 40 and 60% of these individuals carried immune cells reacting against SARS-CoV-2.
This feeds into the “cross-immunity” hypothesis, which is currently debated in the scientific and medical community, that prior infection with other coronaviruses – which cause mild colds – will provide protection against COVID-19 for some people. “It is not yet clear” that this is possible, however, put the Californian authors into perspective.
– With the QMI Agency
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