Korean researchers have found that most people who have not been infected by the new coronavirus already possess immune cells ready to make neutralizing antibodies.

Korean researchers have discovered that uninfected, healthy people also have immune cells to produce antibodies neutralizing the Covid-19 virus.
Korean researchers have discovered that uninfected, healthy people also have immune cells to produce antibodies neutralizing the Covid-19 virus.

A research team, led by Professors Oh Myoung-don and Park Wan-beom of the Infectious Disease Department at Seoul National University Hospital, has confirmed immune cells in six of 10 uninfected, healthy people in a recent study.

“Most people have Covid-19 immune cells, which allow them to form neutralizing antibodies from the beginning of infection rapidly,” the research team said.

Thirteen out of 16 Covid-19 patients showed the same neutralizing antibody. The human body can produce various neutralizing antibodies from the same virus, but researchers discovered the neutralizing antibodies in most Covid-19 patients and healthy people.

The research team explained these common neutralizing antibodies could be used to develop a new way of preventing and treating the infection.

“Our finding explains why people produced neutralizing antibodies against Covid-19 faster than in other viruses,” Professor Park said. “The presence and characteristics of this neutralizing antibody could help develop effective vaccines and treatments when a pandemic similar to Covid-19 outbreaks in the future.”

This research received the support of the Ministry of Science and ICT under the National Research Foundation of Korea, and the study results were published in the latest issue of the Science Translational Medicine, a global journal.

Copyright © KBR Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution prohibited