Immune System’s Requirements For Protection Against COVID-19 Decoded

Boston: Scientists have assessed the novel coronavirus infection in monkeys and found that the immune system’s T cells may contribute to protection against the virus if antibody responses are suboptimal, an advance which may aid in the development of vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19. The study, published in the journal Nature, shed light on the role of antibodies and immune cells in protection against SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19.

Also Read: People Living With HIV Are Fighting The Triple Pandemic Of Virus, COVID-19 And Nutrition And Food Security

In this study, we define the role of antibodies versus T cells in protection against COVID-19 in monkeys. We report that a relatively low antibody titre — the concentration of antibodies in the blood — is needed for protection. Such knowledge will be important in the development of next generation vaccines, antibody-based therapeutics, and public health strategies for COVID-19, said study co-author Dan Barouch from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in the US.

Earlier studies had suggested that SARS-CoV-2 infection protects rhesus macaques from re-exposure, following which Mr. Barouch and his colleagues purified and collected antibodies from the monkeys that had recovered from infection.

They administered the antibodies at various concentrations to 12 uninfected macaques and observed that protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge was dose dependent. According to the researchers, animals that received higher amounts of antibodies were protected more completely, while animals that received lower amounts of antibodies were protected less well.

Also Read:  WHO Chief Urges Global Leaders To Invest In COVID-19 Vaccines

Similarly, when they administered various concentrations of the purified antibodies to sick monkeys with active SARS-CoV-2 infection, those given higher doses demonstrated more rapid viral control. In another set of experiments, the scientists evaluated the role of specific immune cells — CD8+ T cells — in contributing to protection against the virus by removing these cells from animals that had recovered from the infection. When they removed these immune cells, it left the animals vulnerable to infection after re-exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Our data define the role of antibodies and T cells in protection against COVID-19 in monkeys. Antibodies alone can protect, including at relatively low levels, but T cells are also helpful if antibody levels are insufficient. Such correlates of protection are important given the recent successful vaccine results from human trials, and the likelihood that these and other vaccines will become widely available in the spring, said Mr. Barouch, who is also Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Mr. Barouch believes future vaccines may need to be licensed based on immune correlates rather than clinical efficacy.

Also Read: World Health Organisation Says Almost All COVID-19 Cases Develop Immune Response

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.