Long-lasting immunity
Immunity to covid at the level of T- and B-cells persists for several years
Georgy Golovanov, Hi-tech+
A new study confirms that immune cells designed to fight coronavirus – the so-called T- and B–lymphocytes - remain unchanged after recovery from COVID-19 for the maximum possible observed period of 8 months. This guarantees long-term protection for the vast majority of those who have been ill. A very small percentage of those who have recovered are susceptible to repeated infections for an unknown reason. This means that after successful mass vaccination, the pandemic should come to naught.
The immune system of patients recovering from COVID-19 will be sufficiently protected not to be infected after eight months, according to the authors of a new study. In their opinion, this means that immunity to this virus will most likely last for many years, according to the website of the University of Minnesota.
The article by Dan et al. Immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 assessed for up to 8 months after infection is published in the journal Science – VM.
"At first there were many fears that the virus would not trigger reliable immune memory," said Shane Crotty of the Institute of Immunology in La Jolla, California, co–author of the work. "However, the memory looks quite good."
An article published in the journal Science at the beginning of the year contradicts early evidence that immunity to COVID-19 may be short-term. Indeed, other types of coronaviruses lead to the appearance of antibodies that disappear quite quickly. But according to a new study, re-infection can only be a problem for a very small percentage of people. And even vaccination should help them.
The researchers studied blood samples of 185 people who recovered after COVID-19 – most escaped with mild consequences, although 7% were hospitalized. Each of them donated blood at least once after the first symptoms appeared. The samples were tested for the presence of several substances that prevent re-infection: antibodies, B cells and T cells.
The results showed that the number of antibodies in the body decreased moderately after eight months, although their level seriously fluctuated from person to person. However, there were almost no fewer T cells, and B cells did not decrease at all, and sometimes their number even increased.
This means that, despite the decrease in free antibodies, the components that cause their production and coordination for attacking the coronavirus remain at the same, rather high level.
As Crotty added, the same mechanism that leads to the emergence of immune memory after infection also forms the basis for immunity after vaccination.
The authors admit that it is too early to make far-reaching predictions about what will happen in a few years. However, the results show that if the vaccination goes well, we will soon be able to leave the pandemic behind.
Singaporean scientists also found at the end of the year, that after infection with SARS-CoV-2, the immune memory to protect against reinfection is active for at least eight months. This means that any vaccine offers real hope for long-term protection.
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