Research Reveals Why Some People Remain Immune to Covid
- Researchers at Imperial College London studied the immune responses of 36 healthy volunteers intentionally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 to understand why some people did not contract Covid-19.
- Participants showing unique localized immune responses in the nasal lining cleared the virus quickly, whereas those who developed Covid had a slower nasal immune response.
- The findings reveal crucial insights into the body’s immune reaction to infections which could impact the development of future vaccines and treatments.
The study led by researchers at Imperial College London seeks to understand why some individuals did not contract Covid-19 despite exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Through an experiment involving 36 healthy adults who were intentionally exposed to the virus via their noses, researchers monitored immune responses before and after infection. The results revealed that participants who resisted infection displayed unique localized immune responses in the nasal lining, allowing them to detect and neutralize the virus quickly. Conversely, those who contracted the virus showed delayed immune responses, allowing the virus to take hold. These findings underscore the importance of early immune reactions in preventing infection and could enhance future vaccine and treatment strategies. This research contributes critical insights that may have broader implications for other infectious diseases and future health crises.