“Immunity lasts for 20 months after being infected with COVID-19… Low risk of re-infection”

Maintain activation of specialized T cell subgroups

Reporter Jang Bom-i

| input July 23, 2022 10:30 | correction Jul 23, 2022 09:15 |

| input July 23, 2022 10:30 | correction July 23, 2022 09:15

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An overseas research team has discovered a T-cell (immune cell) reaction that occurs only after a natural infection with COVID-19. Because special immune cells are activated for at least 20 months after infection with COVID-19, it is highly likely that re-infection will not lead to serious illness.

According to Sweden’s Gothenburg University and Salgrenska University Hospital, the team collected 81 blood samples from hospital staff with mild cases of COVID-19 in the year of the outbreak. The research team studied T cell reactivity to coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and captured the T cell response that occurs only after natural infection.

Immediately after infection with COVID-19, several strains of virus-specific T cells were detected in the blood, but markedly decreased after 10 to 12 weeks. However, the body’s highly specialized group of T cells remained active in the blood of all patients infected with the coronavirus. It was confirmed that it did not disappear or weaken even after long-term observation.

It has also been observed that a subgroup of specialized T cells that promote viral destruction are activated for at least 20 months after a natural infection with COVID-19. Infected patients also had several different types of T cells that react with the coronavirus. In general, T cells are recovered and disappeared from the blood after about 2 months.

The results of this study suggest that reinfected patients with COVID-19 may have a lower risk of serious illness and mortality.

Anna Martner, associate professor of immunology at the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy, said, “While certain subsets of T cells disappear immediately after infection, highly specialized T cells have been shown to be the mainstay of protective immunity in the years following COVID-19. It is stably present in the blood for important functions.”

Reporter Jang Bom-i [email protected]

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