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A study has found that T cells, which are immune cells produced by the common cold, can raise the level of immunity against the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Scientists hope the study could help make vaccines more effective against the mutated virus.
According to CBS News on the 10th (local time), a research team from Imperial College London University in the UK investigated the correlation between COVID-19 infection and an existing cold in 52 people who were not vaccinated in September 2020 and whose cohabitation was confirmed. did.
The research team revealed that the level of T cells, the immune cells caused by the common cold, in 26 people who were exposed to the Corona 19 virus but were not infected were significantly higher than in those who were infected. This research paper was published in the journal Nature Communications.
Dr. Algit Ralbani, who participated in this study, said, “What we can learn from the results of this study is that there is a natural immune system produced by the previous common cold virus.” That doesn’t mean there isn’t,” he explained. He emphasized that only 10 to 15 percent of colds are caused by coronavirus, and the ability of T cells to prevent aggravation weakens over time.
“The point of this study is not to rely on T cells, but how to harness naturally occurring immunity to develop better vaccines,” he added. Most of the vaccines developed so far have a structure that helps the human body to produce antibodies and T cells by targeting the spike protein, the protrusion of the virus. However, as mutations in spike proteins such as delta and omicron occur frequently, concerns have been raised about incapacitating the efficacy of existing vaccines.
“This discovery provides a blueprint for the production of vaccines that build immunity against new mutations,” said Dr. Ralvani. will do it,” he said.
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