Is there a natural way to be immunized against COVID-19? Read on to know the answer.
Four human coronaviruses (HCoV) are responsible for 30% of the seasonal colds. They are HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-229E.
The death rate associated with these seasonal colds is minimal compared to COVID-19.
COVID-19 is different. It has a higher mortality. The high death rate is because the SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus, and not many have immunity toward it. But is that really the case?
A preprint study from The Francis Crick Institute, University College of London Hospitals, University Hospital of Wales, and Imperial College of London concluded that antibodies developed from prior infection by the seasonal coronaviruses give some protection against COVID-19.
Antigens and Antibodies
An antigen is a part of a foreign body like a virus. The body protects itself against the foreign antigen by binding it with an antibody.
Antibodies are also known as immunoglobulins and are custom made for each germ. The antibody against the flu cannot work against the measles virus.
However, there can be cross-reactivity between antibodies made for viruses of the same type. Meaning, the antibodies to HCoV-OC43 may be effective against another coronavirus.
Different kinds of antibodies can also be produced for certain parts of the virus. In the case of coronaviruses, various antibodies are made for each section.
Once attached, the antigen-antibody complex starts an immune reaction to get rid of the disease-causing germ.
Coronavirus Spikes as Antigens
Coronaviruses got their name from the spikes around them that gives them a crown appearance. Those spikes attach to human cell receptors. Once connected, the coronavirus enters the cells, multiply, and cause cell death.
The coronavirus spikes are shown in pink below.
Each spike can be divided into different parts, like the S1 and the S2 region, as shown below.
The body develops specific antibodies to the S1 and S2 and other parts of the virus.
Study Results
The main finding is that the antibodies against the four seasonal coronaviruses, specifically those against the S2 region, were able to bind with the SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
Once the antibody occupies the S2 region of the spike, the antibody prevents the SARS-CoV-2 from attacking the cells.
Not only that, but the antibody-antigen complex also gives a signal for other immune cells to come and destroy the formed antibody-antigen complex.
This averts the infection at an early stage, and the infected person may only have minimal or no symptoms.
COVID-19 in Children
This may explain why only a few children and teenagers get very ill with COVID-19. Their constant exposure to their schoolmates and friends affords continual exposure to different microbes and builds up their antibodies.
That supports a widely held belief that a healthy immune response relies on previous exposure to various germs so that the immune system can develop various antibodies.
In the coronavirus case, the antibody protection against the viruses of the common cold afforded protection against a new coronavirus, the SARS-CoV-2.
Comments about the Study
This is a well-made study in the way it is designed. The investigators took the extra step of verifying their findings by doing another test to check their results. This makes their conclusions stronger.
The tests they designed and used have high accuracy to ensure that the subjects who had and those who never had COVID-19 but only the common coronavirus were identified correctly.
Caution about interpreting the study
The study is not yet peer-reviewed, and thus broad-scale conclusions and policies should not be made based on it.
The protection provided by antibodies against coronaviruses are not long-lasting; that is why people of all ages can have colds every year.
Despite that, the cross-protection provided by the antibody prevents further transmission and lessens the disease severity.
Parting thoughts
The elderly and people with chronic diseases are still at high risk and should be protected. Their underlying condition may not be enough to give them protection against COVID-19.
This is an eye-opening study about how the antibodies that many people already have against previous coronavirus infections can protect against COVID-19. However, that may not be enough. Risk factors like diabetes and hypertension should be well-controlled.
The study questions whether school closures and widespread lockdowns can affect the immune system against future COVID-19 infections.
Much hope is being given to the development of a vaccine that provides artificial exposure to the coronavirus. This study shows that an existing natural way to get immunized against COVID-19 already exists.
Knowledge about Covid-19 is rapidly evolving. Information may update as new researches are done. Stay current by subscribing. Feel free to share.
Don’t Get Sick!
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Study Featured in this article.
Image Credits:
- Cross-section of a coronavirus By https://www.scientificanimations.com – https://www.scientificanimations.com/wiki-images/, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86436446
- Parts of the Spike from the study, Pre-existing and de novo humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in humans
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