Long-lasting COVID immunity gives real hope for the long-term protection of vaccines

Australian researchers have revealed – for the first time – that people who have been infected with the COVID-19 virus have immune memory to protect against reinfection for at least eight months.

The research is the strongest evidence for the likelihood that vaccines against the virus, SARS-CoV-2, will work for long periods.  

Revealed: the enzyme behind immune cell activity

Prof David Tarlinton and some of his
group. L-R: Dr Simona Infantino, Mr
Nik Kocovski (PhD student) and Mr
Dean Low (PhD student)

by Anne Crawford

Monash University researchers have revealed the role played by an enzyme that is pivotal to the process of clearing infection in the body. Moreover, they suggest that the enzyme may be a potential target for drug development to block the types of inappropriate or excessive cell behaviour that occur in cancer and autoimmunity.

The production of antibodies – proteins secreted into our blood that neutralise invaders such as bacteria and viruses – is one of the immune system’s most important ways of protecting us from infections.

But the immune cells that ultimately make or secrete the antibody – a type of white blood cell called B-cells or B-lymphocytes – need to change significantly to do this. They have to be activated, proliferate and change their function, all of which requires significant remodeling of the machinery of the cell.