CME INDIA Presentation by Admin.

Understanding Robust T cell immunity in convalescent individuals with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19

First, latest Pune’s Sero Survey results show that 51.1% persons have developed antibodies to SARS-nCov. Most of us see it as good sign. Although herd immunity is a highly-debated topic at present, I believe in public health experts who commented that this serological survey is clear indication that herd immunity is in progress. They are hopeful that October onwards declining trend in infection could be visible at large. Similar scenario is expected in most of places as huge unreported asymptomatic and even symptomatic cases are blissfully wandering on streets without masks.

Time will tell whether they are messenger and propagator of herd immunity or destroying the epidemic prevention.

Apart from these antibodies, which has been found to persists at best upto 6 months only and panic exists in our mind that no end in this COVID epidemic will come in near future.

But story of T cell immunity has been not well told

TakuyaSekine et al in an article published on 14th august 20 in sciencedirect.com, very aptly says that SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T cells will likely prove critical for long-term immune protection against COVID-19. 

There have systematically mapped the functional and phenotypic landscape of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in unexposed individuals, exposed family members, and individuals with acute or convalescent COVID-19. The results in my opinion are of utmost importance at this point when great depression exists in all of us.

They report that acute phase SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells displayed a highly activated cytotoxic phenotype that correlated with various clinical markers of disease severity, whereas convalescent phase SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were polyfunctional and displayed a stem-like memory phenotype.

Very importantly, SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were detectable in antibody-seronegative exposed family members and convalescent individuals with a history of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19. These findings are very hopeful that end of this covid is bound to happen

Their collective dataset shows that SARS-CoV-2 elicits robust, broad and highly functional memory T cell responses, suggesting that natural exposure or infection may prevent recurrent episodes of severe COVID-19.

Lots of negativity in society is at present at its peak. Now, this untold story must be highlighted, that in viral illness, role of T CELLS is critical and now it is happening.

CME INDIA Key Findings:

  • Acute phase SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells display an activated cytotoxic phenotype
  • Broad and polyfunctional SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in convalescent phase
  • Detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses also in seronegative individuals

Message is Illuminating – SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell immunity across after SARS-CoV-2 exposure suggests that natural exposure or infection could prevent recurrent episodes of severe COVID-19.


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