THE T lymphocytes, the memory cells of our immune system, are enough to protect us from the new Covid variants even in the absence of specific antibodies directed against emerging Sars-CoV-2 mutants. One proves it studio of the San Raffaele in Milanconducted in experimental mouse models and published in 'Nature Immunology'. The work therefore suggests that a previous infection and vaccination imprint a 'memory' in our natural defenses that remains and which represents an effective shield in case of subsequent encounters with the virus.
The study and the results
“The results of our study – states the research coordinator Matteo Iannacone, director of the Division of Immunology, Transplants and Infectious Diseases of the Irccs San Raffaele hospital and professor of General Pathology at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele university – modify the traditional understanding of immunity and demonstrate the importance of including the T-cell-mediated immune response in monitoring responses to vaccinations and in strategies for developing new vaccines.”
“The indication for vaccination – specifies the scientist – remains the fundamental piece to protect the population from serious disease, and our research demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach also for protection against reinfections caused by viral variants”.
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