Researchers from Rockefeller University have revealed in their new study that all patients who recover from coronavirus develop antibodies. However, they also discovered that these antibodies might not be enough to prevent a second infection.
The authors of the research studied 149 recovered COVID-19 patients and found out that the majority had a weakened antibody response. However, the study also exposed that every patient's immune system seemed to be able to produce the kind of antibodies that neutralize the virus.
These antibodies, however, might not particularly be enough to prevent reinfection. According to a statement by Dr. Michel C. Nussenzweig, the head of the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology at Rockefeller, the findings suggest that everybody can form antibodies, which is excellent news for vaccines.
Furthermore, he says that it means that a vaccine is likely to work for a lot of people. The study is published on the pre-peer review site bioRxiv.org.
In the study, the team recognized 40 antibodies that neutralized the virus. They also focused on three that counteracted the virus, but at low levels. The researchers now plan to clone these antibodies, hoping that it will help patients with severe cases of the infection.
Researchers say that they now know how an effective antibody appears. Furthermore, they say they have found similar ones in more than one person. They say that their study contains essential information for people who are creating and testing vaccines. Moreover, the authors say that if vaccine makers determine that their vaccine can elicit these antibodies, then they know they are on the right track.
How Does Convalescent Plasma Work?
Convalescent plasma is the liquid part of blood obtained from a recovered coronavirus patient. It supposedly contains antibodies and immune B-cells.
Using convalescent plasma as treatment involves the transferring of antibodies from donors who have already developed an immune response, therefore giving off immediate, but temporary protection to the receiver.
Convalescent plasma treatment was also tested during the Ebola virus epidemic in 2013 to 2016. Many case reports showed encouraging results. However, large-scale randomized trials were not carried out. Nevertheless, the World Health Organization published guidelines on the correct use of plasma from recovered patients.
A small number of early reports addresses how COVID-19 patients who have been treated with convalescent plasma have collected plenty of interest. Each study has concluded that plasma therapy is safe and also improves patient outcomes. However, scientists believe that there are significant limitations to each of the studies.
In the meantime, researchers can also analyze the results from convalescent plasma therapy trials to measure which antibodies, and in what numbers, are most likely to subdue the virus.
COVID-19 Antibodies and Immunity
Experts say that a positive antibody test doesn't necessarily mean you're immune to COVID-19. In April, the World Health Organization announced that there is currently no affirmative evidence that COVID-19 survivors have antibodies and are protected from a second infection. According to Angela Rasmussen, a Columbia University virologist, reliable data has yet to be obtained about protective immunity against the disease.
Furthermore, she says that more scientific investigation needs to be done to ensure that the presence and quality of antibodies identified in a test grants immunity.
Scientists also need to accurately determine how long immunity lasts. Moreover, there are also concerns about the accuracy of some of the antibody tests.
