Coronavirus

First COVID Encounter Shapes Individual’s Immune Response To Future Variants, Reveals Study

By
OB Bureau

London: The first SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that one encounters — be it through vaccination or infection — shapes the subsequent immune response of the body against current and future variants, a study conducted in the United Kingdom revealed.

According to the study, exposure to the virus imparts various properties that have an impact on the immune system’s ability to protect against current and future variants. It also affects the rate of decay of protection, explaining why populations across different regions and countries build varying degrees of immunity to similar virus strains, reported news agency PTI.

The findings orchestrated by a scientists’ team from the Imperial College and the Queen Mary University of London were published in the journal ‘Science’ on Friday.

“Our first encounter with spike antigen either through infection or vaccination shapes our subsequent pattern of immunity through immune imprinting,” Professor Rosemary Boyton from Imperial College’s Department of Infectious Disease said.

“Exposure to different spike proteins can result in reduced or enhanced responses to variants further down the line. This has important implications for future-proofing vaccine design and dosing strategies,” Professor Boyton said.

It’s a known fact that antibody levels wane over time following infection or vaccination. However, the new research shows strain or combination of strains one has been exposed to affects an individual’s protective immune responses.

“This study now offers considerable new details about who is susceptible and when. You can be someone who made a great response to the vaccine and still fall prey to Delta breakthrough if you haven’t had a booster,” Professor Danny Altmann from Imperial College’s Department of Immunology and Inflammation was quoted as saying by the agency.

“Immune imprinting means we’re now all walking around programmed slightly differently for our future protection. The challenge is how to broaden the population’s immunity in the right way as we need to ensure the widest coverage possible.

“Currently, with the Omicron variant emerging, it’s vital that people get their booster vaccines. But in the future, we should consider how we can create vaccines that broaden our immune response even more to protect against other new variants of concern,” Professor Altmann explained.

ALSO READ: COVID Vaccine Booster: Now, INSACOG Says More Experiments Needed To Assess Impact

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

IPL Auction: KKR Break Bank For Venkatesh On Lucrative Day For Indian Players; Check Top Buys

Mumbai: The first day of the IPL mega player auction at Jeddah threw up several…

November 24, 2024

Odisha Govt Hands Over Case Of Attack On Dharmasala MLA To Crime Branch

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has handed over the investigation into the attack on Dhramasala MLA…

November 24, 2024

Commissionerate Police Issues Traffic Advisory During Winter Session Of Odisha Assembly; Details Here

Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate of Police on Sunday issued an advisory for movement of vehicular traffic…

November 24, 2024

Elon Musk Proposal: Fire US Federal Employees Who Want To Work From Home

New York: Now that President-elect Donald Trump has tasked Elon Musk with the responsibility of co-heading…

November 24, 2024

Odisha Govt Warns Of Stern Action For Renting Out Its Quarters

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has warned its employees of stern action for sub-letting their allotted…

November 24, 2024

AR Rahman Best Man In The World, Certifies Saira Banu; Then Why Their Separation?

Mumbai: There has been a lot of talk over AR Rahman and his wife Saira…

November 24, 2024

Process On To Form NODC In 2-3 Months, Says Odisha CM Mohan Majhi

Sundargarh: The North Odisha Development Council (NODC) would be formed in 2-3 months, said Chief…

November 24, 2024

Odisha DGP Reviews Security Arrangements For President’s Visit To Puri

Puri: Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania on Sunday reviewed the security arrangements for…

November 24, 2024