Dödligt virus från Kina orsakar panik (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19)

Antibodies are just one part of the immune response, and according to a new article published in The BMJ evidence is growing that many of us already have cross-reactive cellular immunity to the “novel” coronavirus.

According to the BMJ feature, at least 6 past studies have reported T cell reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 in 20% to 50% of people with no known exposure to the virus.

“Memory T cells are known for their ability to affect the clinical severity and susceptibility to future infection,” authors write. “T cell studies documenting pre-existing reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 in 20-50% of people suggest that antibodies are not the full story.”

If coronavirus re-infection were likely to drive a massive wave of re-infection, it’s already doubtful relevant cases would be such sparse outliers tracked down 9 months into the coronavirus pandemic. However, as recent headlines suggest, the human antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 can wane. And to some, this is cause for alarm.

Luckily, antibody response is only one aspect of the total immune reaction of the body. SARS-CoV-1 reactive T cells, for example, were found in SARS patients 17 years after infection

Investigators behind the feature in BMJ pointed to several important pieces of evidence that there is an important cellular response to COVID-19.