English Researchers Say "Immunity to COVID-19 Can Develop Even After Catching a Cold"

"T Cells Formed by Common Cold Virus Also Provide Immunity to COVID-19"
"Low Generation Probability Means Vaccination Is Necessary... Will Aid Future Vaccine Development"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] British researchers have announced a study showing that, in some people, immune cells generated from a common cold infection also provide immunity against the COVID-19 virus. The researchers emphasized that the probability of generating these immune cells is low, so vaccines remain essential, and stated that this research will greatly aid future COVID-19 vaccine development.

According to the British BBC on the 10th (local time), researchers from Imperial College London revealed in a paper published in the journal Nature Communications that "some immune memory formed from a common cold infection can provide immunity against COVID-19."

The researchers investigated 52 unvaccinated individuals who lived with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in September 2020, examining their COVID-19 infection status and levels of T cells, which are immune cells generated from previous common cold infections. The results showed that half were infected with COVID-19 and half were not; among those not infected, one-third had high levels of specific memory T cells in their blood.

The researchers stated that these T cells were found to possess immunity against COVID-19. Unlike current vaccines, which mainly target the spike protein on the surface of COVID-19 to reduce infectivity, these T cells are known to attack internal proteins of COVID-19. The researchers explained that immune cells capable of attacking internal proteins can provide immunity against all variants of COVID-19.

However, the researchers explained that not everyone infected with cold viruses generates these T cells. It is known that only about 10-15% of coronavirus infections causing the common cold provide immunity against COVID-19. The researchers emphasized, "Besides immunity from the common cold, factors such as ventilation and the infectivity of household members can also be variables," and stressed, "Vaccination remains essential." They added, "This discovery will provide a blueprint for producing vaccines that form immunity against new variants while lasting longer."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.