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High levels of T-lymphocytes, or T-cells, could provide adequate protection against the novel coronavirus,a new study suggests. T-cells are part of our immune system, which responds to a foreign invader such as a virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They are different from antibodies and are thought to provide immunity against the coronavirus for a longer period of time. In a study of 3,000 people, researchers with Oxford Immunotec and Public Health England (PHE) found that none of the study participants with a high T-cell response developed a symptomatic case of COVID-19 when researchers checked in with them, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, confirmed infections were reported in 20 study participants who had a low T-cell response. Interestingly, the researchers also found that older study participants had lower levels of SARS-CoV-2 responsive T-cells, a finding that could help explain why older people are more at risk for the novel virus. CORONAVIRUS HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE US REACH RECORD HIGH, DATA SHOWSThough the study is pre-print and has not yet been peer-reviewed, the findings suggest that individuals with higher numbers of T-cells recognizing SARS-CoV-2 may have some level of protection from COVID-19, although more research is required to confirm this, David Wyllie, Consultant Microbiologist at Public Health England, said, according to Reuters. The findings come after a separate study out of Singapore in August found that T-cells in some people may have the ability to recognize COVID-19 despite it being a new virus. CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGEThe findings of that study suggestthat exposure to types of coronaviruses in the past can produce memory T-cells in some peoples blood, possibly helping them to fight off the novel coronavirus. The researchers of the small study published in Naturenoted at the timethat these T-cells may help in the development of
