Coronavirus variants can evade antibodies by spreading via supercells – new research

[2greys]

The antibodies we create after we're infected with a virus or vaccinated against it can be very powerful. A virus typically spreads within our bodies by entering a cell and using it as a factory to create copies of itself, which then burst out and find new cells to infect. Our antibodies work by binding to the virus and this can block it from attaching to and entering our cells in the first place.

But what happens if a virus does not need to exit the cell in order to spread to neighboring cells? Can our antibodies be effective against it?

Scientists recently asked this question for SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. This highly infectious coronavirus can change human cells, making them fuse with two or more nearby cells. These super-cells, with large merged cell bodies, are excellent viral factories.

medicalxpress.com/news/2021...

[2greys]

Yet another article to support that T-cells are more important than antibodies alone.

[mellyme]

Bittersweet indeed. Good and bad intertwined; like my in-laws driving off a cliff in my new Lexus.😉

[2greys in reply to mellyme]

As far as I have read, so far all the available vaccines produce B-cells and T-cells.

[mellyme in reply to 2greys]

Really sharp news.

[CDPO16 in reply to 2greys]

That's good to know, thank you.

[Alberta56]

I'm glad they've found this out. Those viruses are cunning little blighters..

[Biofreak]

I know having the vaccines doesn't stop you getting Covid unfortunately but hopefully not with serious consequences. My friend and her husband, both twice vaccinated, have contracted it possibly from their daughter. Her husband is on the verge of hospitalisation. Very worrying.

[2greys in reply to Biofreak]

Hopefully those Lymphocytes, B-cells and T-cells are going to get to work, unfortunately it does take a little time for them to start working, this is possibly why people can still get infected but not become seriously ill. Fingers crossed for both of them.

[Oldasthmaticfart in reply to Biofreak]

I've heard of this happening too, seems the "95% effectiveness" is not quite true.

[bundelino in reply to Oldasthmaticfart]

95% effective was for Pfizer against original variant. Astra was always lower.

[BronchyBronwen]

Many thanks indeed for this important information. Have a good weekend.