A new study from China showed that antibodies faded quickly in both asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients during convalescence, raising questions about whether the illness leads to any lasting immunity to the virus afterward.
The study, which focused on 37 asymptomatic and 37 symptomatic patients, showed that more than 90% of both groups showed steep declines in levels of SARS-COV-2–specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies within 2 to 3 months after onset of infection, according to a report published yesterday in Nature Medicine. Further, 40% of the asymptomatic group tested negative for IgG antibodies 8 weeks after they were released from isolation.
The authors said the findings suggest that it could be risky to assume that recovered patients are immune to reinfection, which may have implications for how long to maintain physical distancing restrictions.
quote:
In combination with certain previous findings on COVID-19 antibodies, the researchers concluded that their results "might indicate the risks of using COVID-19 'immunity passports' and support the prolongation of public health interventions, including social distancing, hygiene, isolation of high-risk groups and widespread testing."
The study did not address cellular immunity to COVID-19—that is, immune responses involving T-cells rather than antibodies. Some previous studies have found SARS-CoV–specific T-cells in high percentages of convalescent COVID-19 patients.
I don't know what to think. I guess I'd have to know more about this study.
I will say the whole, "public health interventions, including social distancing, hygiene, isolation of high-risk groups and widespread testing." thing isn't going well in the US.
My best friend's brother is a recently retired medical researcher; he has a PhD in genetics and used to work for Bristol Myers Squibb and more recently a couple of small specialty outfits.
He said that the news of the possible short duration of the antibodies was making the rounds in research circles for a while.
He thinks a vaccine might be available sometime later next year. He said that the usual obstacles that make the timeline stretch to five to ten years have largely been eliminated. Things like the business side saying there isn't enough of a market to justify spending money on developing a particular product. That plus the fact that they plan to manufacture the most promising COVID vaccines before they're approved so they're ready if/when they get approval. Compresses the timeline a good bit.
He is very hopeful about the Oxford/AstraZeneca initiative.
-------------------------------- When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier
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