Read: Immunology is where intuition goes to die
In epic tales of the immune system, B cells and their antibodies tend to hog the limelight. Antibodies, which are proteins that drift through the blood, are easy to capture and measure; theyre sometimes powerful enough to waylay a virus before it has the chance to break into a cell. But no antibodies would be produced without the help of T cells, which coax B cells into maturing and play vital roles in their training regimenloyal wingmen at the ready. T cells are also formidable foes in their own right, capable of recognizing virus-infected cells and forcing them to self-destruct.
T cells dont undergo the same supercharged mutation process that their B-cell colleagues do. They are stuck with the pathogen sensors theyre born with. But the starting repertoire of T cells, and the number of bugs they can recognize, is similarly massive. And like their B-cell counterparts, T cells are capable of remembering past pathogenic encountersand their discerning gaze is especially difficult to elude.
When viruses undergo a substantial costume change, it can disrupt this iterative process. Its a big part of why flu vaccines have to be updated every year, Ellebedy said: We are always trying to catch up with the virus.
But coronaviruses mutate far more slowly than flu viruses do. And this new one has yet to undergo a makeover that fully neuters the vaccines weve developed against it. I think theres probably a very small probability that there will be complete escape, David Masopust, an immunologist at the University of Minnesota, told me.
B cells and T cells develop so many unique ways of recognizing a given virus that any one mutation, or even a handful, wont fully thwart them. A change to the equivalent of a viruss elbow, for example, will have little impact on a T cells ability to recognize its earlobe. Memory cells will rapidly seize upon commonalities between the two versions of the virus; in some people, this alone could be enough to nip an infection in the bud.
Certain memory cellsespecially T cellsmight have enough flexibility to recognize a modified version of their viral target. Experts call this cross-reactivity, and its a crucial part of the T cell way of life, Laura Su, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told me. Some scientists have hypothesized that T cells previously marshaled against other coronaviruses, such as those that cause common colds, might even play a small role in quelling this new one.
Even in the complete absence of memory and cross-reactivity, the body still has a huge reserve of backup cellsthe multitude of B and T cells that were not triggered by the first go-round with the virus, Su said. The war against variants is not a fight just for veterans: Chances are, rookies are waiting in the lymph nodes to be called to the front lines. Depending on the extent of the viruss metamorphosis, another infection, perhaps another illness, may be possible. But the body is not left wholly defenseless.
See the rest here:
The Body Is Far From Helpless Against Coronavirus Variants - The Atlantic
- 001 Cells of the Immune System - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- 002 Can immune cells from healthy people pulverize cancer? [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2012]
- 003 Seg_2 - Suhaasini: Immune System Boosters - 21 Feb - Suvarnanews - Video [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2012]
- 004 Seg_1 - Suhaasini: Immune System Boosters - 21 Feb - Suvarnanews - Video [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2012]
- 005 Researchers Find Sarcoma Tumor Immune Response With Combination Therapy [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2012]
- 006 Transplant Procedure Creates 'Hybrid' Immune System to Combat Rejection [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2012]
- 007 Radiation Blast May Turbocharge Bristol-Myers Melanoma Drug, Report Shows [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2012]
- 008 Vaccination strategy may hold key to ridding HIV infection from immune system [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2012]
- 009 Stem cell treatment tricks immune system into accepting donor organs, study shows [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2012]
- 010 Bite-Sized Biochemistry #53 - Immune System [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2012]
- 011 Progress, no big breakthrough, in hunt for HIV cure [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2012]
- 012 Could the immune system help recovery from stroke? [Last Updated On: March 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 14th, 2012]
- 013 'Personalized immune' mouse offers new tool for studying autoimmune diseases [Last Updated On: March 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 15th, 2012]
- 014 "Personalized Immune" Mouse Offers New Tool for Studying Autoimmune Diseases Model May Allow Development of ... [Last Updated On: March 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 15th, 2012]
- 015 Peoples' immune systems can now be duplicated in mice [Last Updated On: March 17th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 17th, 2012]
- 016 Immune Role in Brain Disorder? [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2012]
- 017 Kidney Transplant Patients Seek Life Without Immune-Suppressing Drugs [Last Updated On: March 20th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 20th, 2012]
- 018 A Chimeric Immune System: Fixing the Problem With Organ Transplant [Last Updated On: March 20th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 20th, 2012]
- 019 Key to immune system disease could lie inside the cheek [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2012]
- 020 Powerful new cells cloned: Key to immune system disease could lie inside the cheek [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2012]
- 021 Powerful cheek cells offer promise for combating immune system diseases [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2012]
- 022 Cancer research targets a key cell protein [Last Updated On: March 27th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 27th, 2012]
- 023 Your Gut Is Good For You: Benevolent Belly Fat Modulates Immune System, Helps Repair Tissue Damage [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2012]
- 024 Trudeau Institute announces $9 Million Translational Research Award [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2012]
- 025 Immune system molecule weaves cobweb-like nanonets to snag Salmonella, other intestinal microbes [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2012]
- 026 Immune Design Corp. Announces Appointment of Dr. Roger Perlmutter as a Member of Its Board of Directors [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2012]
- 027 Hope for Leukemia and Myelodysplasia Patients from Rabbits' Antibodies [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2012]
- 028 Mix of Immune Cells Detects Cancer [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2012]
- 029 New evidence links immune irregularities to autism, mouse study suggests [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2012]
- 030 Mouse with human immune system may revolutionize HIV vaccine research [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2012]
- 031 New Clinical Trial Seeks to Cure Advanced Crohn's Disease by Replacing a Diseased Immune System with a Healthy One [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2012]
- 032 Clinical trial seeks to cure advanced Crohn's disease using bone marrow transplant [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2012]
- 033 Replacing Diseased Immune System With A Healthy One To Cure Chrohn's Disease [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2012]
- 034 Dormant HIV gets rude awakening [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2012]
- 035 Cancer Drug Unmasks HIV in Immune Cells [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2012]
- 036 Unexpected variation in immune genes poses difficulties for transplantation [Last Updated On: August 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: August 3rd, 2012]
- 037 UCLA Researchers Discover "Missing Link" Between Stem Cells and the Immune System [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2012]
- 038 'Missing link' between stem cells and the immune system [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2012]
- 039 UCLA researchers discover missing link between stem cells and immune system [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2012]
- 040 'Missing link' ties blood stem cells, immune system [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2012]
- 041 Stem Cells & Immune System: "Missing Link" Found [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- 042 Immune system molecule affects our weight [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2012]
- 043 Immune system harnessed to improve stem cell transplant outcomes [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- 044 Researchers harness the immune system to improve stem cell transplant outcomes [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- 045 Vaccine to treat cervical cancer shows early promise [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2012]
- 046 Technique shields immune system from chemo effects [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2012]
- 047 Immunice Recommendations - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2012]
- 048 Caiden's Story - A 4-year-old's epic battle - Video [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2012]
- 049 SU2C-CRI Cancer Immunology Translational Research Dream Team - Video [Last Updated On: December 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 12th, 2012]
- 050 Immunotherapy Boosting the immune system to fight cancer - Video [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2012]
- 051 Microgravity Affects The Immune System - The Daily Orbit - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2013]
- 052 Embryonic Stem Cells Generate Immune System - Video [Last Updated On: May 21st, 2013] [Originally Added On: May 21st, 2013]
- 053 Repairing a Damaged Immune System - Video [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2013] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2013]
- 054 Stem Cells and the Immune System - Anastasia Filomeno - Video [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2013] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2013]
- 055 3 - day fast might reboot your immune system - Video [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2014]
- 056 WHD Murings Apak Apak Magnetic Healing Mat ( The Immune System & Stem Cell Activator ) - Video [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- 057 A chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL) patient's video diary: Immune system - Video [Last Updated On: November 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 22nd, 2014]
- 058 MS Stem Cell Medication Therapy Shows Promise - Video [Last Updated On: January 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 2nd, 2015]
- 059 Stress Weakens the Immune System [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2015]
- 060 Your Immune System: Natural Born Killer - Crash Course ... [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2015]
- 061 How to boost your immune system - Harvard Health [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2015]
- 062 How Your Immune System Works - HowStuffWorks [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2015]
- 063 Immune system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2015]
- 064 Immune response: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [Last Updated On: May 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 21st, 2015]
- 065 Immune and Lymphatic Systems Anatomy Pictures and ... [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2015]
- 066 Adaptive immune system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2015]
- 067 Immune System: Can Your Immune System ... - Biology of Aging [Last Updated On: May 29th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 29th, 2015]
- 068 What Is the Immune System? (with pictures) [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2015]
- 069 Immune System - KidsHealth [Last Updated On: June 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 3rd, 2015]
- 070 The Immune System | Health | Patient.co.uk [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2015]
- 071 Immune System - Cancer Fighting Strategies [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2015]
- 072 How Sleeping Can Affect Your Immune System - Mercola.com [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2015]
- 073 14.00-Immune-Adult - Social Security Administration [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2015]
- 074 Immune System: MedlinePlus - National Library of Medicine [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2015]
- 075 Lack of Sleep and the Immune System - WebMD [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2015]
- 076 Easy Immune System Health home page [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2015]
- 077 Immune System News -- ScienceDaily [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2015]
- 078 How Sleeping Can Affect Your Immune System [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2015]
- 079 The immune system and cancer | Cancer Research UK [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2015]
- 080 Innate immune system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2015]