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A vaccine dose proactively creates memory cells (memory B cells) in the body, which allow the body to IMMEDIATELY create fighter cells (plasma cells) when the b
by nobrains 7y ago
A vaccine dose proactively creates memory cells (memory B cells) in the body, which allow the body to IMMEDIATELY create fighter cells (plasma cells) when the body is infected with the actual virus, thus stopping it in its tracks. Without vaccine, when virus infects, the body takes times to learn the virus and create the memory cells and fighter cells, and hence the infection gets worse.
The weapons the fighter cells use are antibodies. In this case, the discovery has directly produced antibodies, which are helpful in fighting the virus (but cannot be used to proactively create memory cells). Antibodies have the advantage that they don't trigger the body's immune system, which means less issues to deal with.
Hope this (and other efforts being done) pass testing and get in the field as soon as possible.
- shawnz 7y agoDoes this mean someone treated with antibodies won't be immune to the virus in future?
- sudhirj 7y agoSounds like it. This is not a vaccination. It may be possible that while these antibodies are working the body might also “learn” the virus, thus providing immunity, but that would be a side effect of the infection.
- nullc 7y agoFor other coronaviruses that infect humans there the adaptive immune response isn't particularly strong and doesn't last. E.g. immunity to HCoV-OC43 lasts no more than about 12 months. This is a reason to suspect that a vaccine may not be easily developed; so antibody therapy (and/or anti-virals) might be the best we can do. If the antibody therapy was highly effective and could be produced at scale for a tolerable cost, it would probably be a pretty effective tool. Though monoclonal antibodies aren't known for being particularly affordable.
- rleigh 7y agoIt's likely. The body will be less likely to have undergone the immune response to generate antibodies of its own. Additionally, as the immune response develops, the antibody affinity to its target is refined through a process called "affinity maturation", so any antibodies which are produced might not have high affinity and hence result in a weaker immune response. Treatment with antibodies might be useful as an immediate fix, but vaccination or infection and the development of a proper immune response is the long term requirement for resistance.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- nobrains 7y agoThat is correct. Immunity is developed when immune response happens and creates memory cells. In this case, that part is skipped.