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T-cells from common colds can provide protection against COVID-19 - study

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Alistair Smout, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (green) within endosomes of a heavily infected nasal Olfactory Epithelial Cell. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Photo by NIAID" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/11/29/covid-generic.jpg"/><figcaption>Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (green) within endosomes of a heavily infected nasal Olfactory Epithelial Cell. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. <em>Photo by NIAID</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3>Study included 52 people exposed to COVID at home</h3><p>LONDON — High levels of T-cells from common cold coronaviruses can provide protection against COVID-19, an Imperial College London study published on Monday has found, which could inform approaches for second-generation vaccines.</p><p>Immunity against COVID-19 is a complex picture, and while there is evidence of waning antibody levels six months after vaccination, T-cells are also believed to play a vital role in providing protection.</p><p>The study, which began in September 2020, looked at levels of cross-reactive T-cells generated by previous common colds in 52 household contacts of positive COVID-19 cases shortly after exposure, to see if they went on to develop infection.</p><p>It found that the 26 who did not develop infection had significantly higher levels of those T-cells than people who did get infected. Imperial did not say how long protection from the T-cells would last.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; study author Dr Rhia Kundu said.</p><p>The authors of the study, published in Nature Communications, said that the internal proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which are targeted by the T-cells could offer an alternative target for vaccine makers.</p><p>Current COVID-19 vaccines target the spike protein, which mutates regularly, creating variants such as Omicron which lessen the efficacy of vaccines against symptomatic infection.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/09/22/omicron-likely-causing-spike-in-covid-infections-octa">Omicron likely causing spike in COVID-19 infections: OCTA</a></li></ul><p>&quot;In contrast, the internal proteins targeted by the protective T-cells we identified mutate much less,&quot; Professor Ajit Lalvani, co-author of the study, said.</p><p>&quot;Consequently, they are highly conserved between the various SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron. New vaccines that include these conserved, internal proteins would therefore induce broadly protective T cell responses that should protect against current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants.&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZHI0MZGNV3s?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

T-cells from common colds can provide protection against COVID-19 - study

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T-cells from common colds can provide protection against COVID-19 - study

Alistair Smout,

Reuters

Published January 10, 2022 07:00 PM PHT

Read More:

COVID-19

T-cells

common cold

coronavirus

COVID-19 immunity

SARS-CoV-2 virus

Omicron

vaccine

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