Immunology and Covid-19: A student blog
Guest author MSc Science Communication student, Mairiosa Hall speaks to Sheena Cruikshank, Professor of Public Engagement & Biomedical Science to mark International Day of Immunology which this year focuses on the theme of Covid-19.
What is Immunology
Immunology is the study of the body’s immune system and its defence against infection. Our immune system protects us by recognising and reacting to potential infectious threats by destroying them. However, our immune systems can also cause harm to us if they aren’t correctly regulated. Overactive immune systems cause autoimmune disorders such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Type 1 Diabetes, in diseases such as these the body recognises its own cells as foreign and destroys them. Understanding the complex mechanisms of our immune system is important in order to prevent both infectious and autoimmune diseases.
Prior to Covid-19 Sheena and her team mainly focused on understanding how the immune system distinguishes threat from benefit and how this recognition can be wrong in inflammatory conditions. Like with many things, the pandemic had a significant impact on the work conducted by her team and research labs across the nation. Research initially was paused during the first lockdown forcing researchers to re-imagine their work virtually, something that Sheena found very difficult. She believes the pandemic was damaging to research in many ways including morale and productivity, especially for those who are juggling caring responsibilities. Despite this, Sheena is extremely proud of her colleagues in the lab who have pulled together and worked really well throughout this difficult time.
Impact of Covid-19 on Immunology Research
Our immune system has evolved to recognise a huge variety of pathogens, however some of these pathogens have also evolved to hide from it. Because of this some diseases, such as HIV and Malaria are extremely tricky to deal with. Zoonotic diseases, those that have crossed over from animals to humans, also pose a challenge for our immune systems as they are completely novel. Coronavirus that causes Covid-19 is an example of a zoonotic disease, originating in bats.
Since the first reporting of this novel virus, there has been news coverage streamed nearly every night about Covid-19, immunology and vaccines. This increased exposure of immunology research to the world has sparked conversations and debates among many whom previously wouldn’t have an opinion on the matter. There is no escaping the fact that information about immunology is at the forefront of public interest, but has this impacted the research? Funding has increased for important research projects in the UK including: the roles of antibodies in immunity, how long immunity to viruses lasts and the effect of Covid-19 on vital organs. However other scientific research has suffered as a direct result of the pandemic.
Reinfection, Variants and the Vaccine: Should We Be Worried?
Data shows that antibodies can be found three months post Covid-19 infection, although if infection follows the trend of its related diseases (Sars and Mers) these antibodies gradually decrease over time. This poses the question: Should we be worried about reinfection? In an article written for The Conversation, Sheena explains that antibodies are not the only indicator of immunity and what is known so far about reinfection.
Since this article was published, the roll out of the vaccine across the UK has begun with an extremely high uptake. Evidence suggests that at least partial immunity can be detected 6-9 months after vaccination, meaning the chance for reinfection is low (and if you are infected you will likely develop mild symptoms at worst). In this Youtube video, Sheena explains the importance of vaccines and why they are so effective in developing immunity.
It is still too soon to claim that the declining Covid-19 cases are a result of the successful vaccination programme, a result of the third national lock down, or a bit of both. But as the UK restrictions begin to ease, we will soon be able to see the true impact of the vaccine on the transmission of this disease.
Variants
The threat of new Covid-19 variants and their impact on the success of the vaccine has been mentioned numerous times in recent news coverage. Phrases such as the ‘South African Variant’ and the ‘British Variant’ are mentioned frequently yet there never seems to be accompanying explanations as to what this actually means. Viruses mutate very frequently, the majority of mutations are minor and will have no impact on our immunity, however some mutations may decrease the effectiveness of the existing vaccines.
If this happens, the vaccines will have to be redesigned. The flu, a virus that kills around 10,000 people in the UK each year is an example of this. In order to combat the ever-evolving variants of the flu virus, each year the flu vaccine is adapted according to the new mutations. A similar pattern will likely occur with the Covid-19 vaccine. Although it is still very early to say for sure, it is likely that each year the vulnerable will be invited to receive an updated booster vaccine.
Coronavirus will not be eradicated in the near future and the world is having to adapt to the reality of this new virus. However, with important immunology research amplified and ongoing, hopefully the future impacts of Covid-19 will be minimised and life will soon return to normality.
Find out more about immunology at the University here
Find out more about how the University is responding to Covid-19 here.
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