Lets Fight Covid 19
A Swedish study has found out that immunity developed in response to Covid-19 in humans may be stronger and more widespread than earlier thought. So far, researchers worldwide were focusing on detecting antibodies against the Sars Cov-2 virus, in infected humans, and seeing mixed results, concluding that the body’s immune response to this virus was lacking and not of lasting effect.
But now, scientists at Karolinksa Institute of Sweden, says humans also produce killer T-Cells specifically made to kill the Covid-19 infected cells. As such, relying only on antibody tests to judge the human immune response to this virus, has now proved to be inadequate. What is more, the Swedish researchers found that double the number of infected people are developing such T-Cells, in comparison to those who develop antibodies against the virus.
Antibodies and T-Cells act in different but complementary ways. While antibodies to a virus deactivate the virus before it can infect cells, the T-Cells destroy the already infected cells. And like antibodies, T-Cells too have memory, which means it can spring into action if a re-infection happens. I think this is one of the most promising news I have read on the pandemic, recently. My new book, ‘The Making of a Superhuman’ describes different ways to boost the various immune systems components, including T-Cells.