COVID-19 immunity may be acquired from a previous common cold according to a new study. And the Army may have just discovered new coronavirus-killing antibodies that could help fight the novel coronavirus. Could these discoveries put an end to the ongoing pandemic?
According to Fox News' latest report, some researchers who have been conducting studies to determine whether a vaccine candidate is successful against the novel coronavirus, have claimed that a previous common cold acquired from a COVID-19 infection may provide some form of protective immunity against the viral coronavirus.
Also Read: COVID-19: People That Test Positive a Second Time May Not be Infectious, Experts Say
The team studied 20 adults who had successfully recovered from a coronavirus infection. The results of the study at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology showed that the previously infected individuals' immune system can recognize SARS-CoV-2 in many ways. The Journal Cell published the findings of the researchers.
Also Read: COVID-19 App: Older People With No Smartphones Might be a Problem, Says Report
"If we had seen only marginal immune responses, we would have been concerned," said Dr. Alessandro Sette, one of the authors of the study. "But what we see is a very robust T cell response against the spike protein, which is the target of most ongoing COVID-19 efforts, as well as other vital proteins. These findings are really good news for vaccine development." he further explained.
Previous common cold could possibly provide COVID-19 immunity: The Army may have discovered new coronavirus-killing antibodies
According to Fox News, T cells isolated in patients who had recovered from the infection without suffering major complications were tested by the team of researchers to see whether they could identify the virus' protein fragments. The results showed that the T cell developed a response that helps antibody production in almost all patients.
The results gave the researchers a base to analyze and compare the immune system in people who are asymptomatic or can recover at home, versus those who have had severe symptoms. Sette also added that the study gave the researchers a baseline that can determine the features in protective immune system response to COVID-19 which can also be seen in people's immune responses who have received a vaccine.
On the other hand, another report of Fox News stated that the United States Army researchers may have discovered 18 new COVID-19 antibodies.
The study clarified that the antibodies discovered are not considered a vaccine against the coronavirus. Blood packets were collected by the researchers from the recovered COVID-19 patients.
It was reiterated that once an individual successfully recovered from COVID-19 infection, their blood can possibly contain antibodies that can fight the presence of the virus particles, making the novel coronavirus less dangerous and contagious for the health of the patient.
