T cells are one of the pillars of the immune system. They are white blood cells that help in the production of antibodies, and that also kill infected virus cells.
"Our results indicate that about twice as many people have developed T-cell immunity compared to those with which we can detect antibodies," says Marcus Buggert, associate professor at the Center for Infectious Medicine, KI, in a press release.
Family members of the sick immune systemThe study was conducted on 200 people who had mild or no symptoms at all on covid-19 and their family members who showed no symptoms.
"An interesting observation was that not only individuals with verified covid-19 disease exhibited T-cell immunity, but also several of their exposed asymptomatic family members," says Soo Aleman, chief physician at the Infection Clinic at Karolinska University Hospital.
In addition, about 30 percent of blood donors who donated blood during May 2020 had covid-19-specific T cells, which is a significantly higher proportion than those with antibodies. Moreover, the levels of the measured T-cell responses are at the same level that you usually have against a virus after being vaccinated against it.
The research report has not yet been fact-checked via a so-called peer review, which is required for publication in a scientific journal (see fact box).
Old colds teach T cells to recognize covid-19Also, two other studies published in the journal Science show that the T cells are found in people who have not been sick. It is probably the old colds that have made us humans better equipped for the corona virus.
- It has been possible to identify which parts of the corona virus these T cells can actually recognize, says Gustaf Christofferson, associate professor and immunologist at Uppsala University.
The results can contribute to research on a more effective vaccine.
How long-term protection the T cells provide is not known. But the tests are complicated, and that you as a private person should be able to see if you have T-cells that protect against covid-19 is far ahead.
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Hear Gustaf Christoffersson, immunologist at the Department of Medical Cell Biology at Uppsala University, tell about T-cells. Photo: Per Nilsson