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| Science & Technology |
| T Cells From Common Colds Cross-Protect Against Infection With COVID-19: Study |
| 2022-01-11 |
| [ET] A type of cells produced by the body when fighting common cold viruses cross-protect people against infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a study published Monday. T cells have been recognized as a measure of protection against severe COVID-19 and previous research indicated that recovery from common colds may provide some level of shielding against the virus that causes COVID-19. Researchers with Imperial College London found in the new study that the presence of such cells can also prevent infection by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease. The scientists assessed 52 contacts of newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases to pinpoint when they were first exposed and determined that people who tested negative for COVID-19 had higher cross-reactive T cell levels. They also took blood samples from the participants within 6 days of exposure. "Being exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus doesn’t always result in infection, and we’ve been keen to understand why. We found that high levels of pre-existing T cells, created by the body when infected with other human coronaviruses like the common cold, can protect against COVID-19 infection," Dr. Rhia Kundu, the lead author, of Imperial’s National Heart & Lung Institute, said in a statement. Professor Ajit Lalvani, another author, said the study "provides the clearest evidence to date that T cells induced by common cold coronaviruses play a protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection," adding that "these T cells provide protection by attacking proteins within the virus, rather than the spike protein on its surface." The discovery could help scientists develop a new version of the COVID-19 vaccine, the researchers said. T Cells: A type of white blood cell. T cells are part of the immune system and develop from stem cells in the bone marrow. They help protect the body from infection and may help fight cancer. Also called T lymphocyte and thymocyte. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #1 So...a healthy lifestyle and an active immune system help prevent illness? Doesn't really jive with being locked in your house and Big Junk Food being left at your door. Anyone ever have a hamster? Guess what happens to hamsters when they are in a tiny cage with nothing to do but eat. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2022-01-11 13:29 |