Covid-19 vaccines: delivering protective immunity
Herb F. Sewell, Raymond Agius, Denise Kendrick, Marcia Stewart
Abstract
Early in the covid-19 pandemic it was unclear whether and how individuals and populations would develop protective and enduring immunity against SARS-CoV-2, either after infection or vaccination. Initial focus was on defining virus neutralising antibodies from B cells after infection. Early reports indicated that such antibodies decline substantially over less than six months, raising questions about how long protective immunity might last following infection. T cells are also known to be important in protecting against many viral infections through processes known as cellular immunity. Defining the roles of T cells in covid-19 became a central focus for investigation.
Topics & Concepts
ImmunityVaccinationImmunologyCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)PandemicVirologyMedicineAntibodyVirusSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Cellular immunity2019-20 coronavirus outbreakImmune systemBiologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)DiseaseOutbreakPathologySARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesImmune responses and vaccinations