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. 2020 Oct;20(10):581-582.
doi: 10.1038/s41577-020-00436-4.

Not just antibodies: B cells and T cells mediate immunity to COVID-19

Rebecca J Cox  1 , Karl A Brokstad  2
Affiliations

Not just antibodies: B cells and T cells mediate immunity to COVID-19

Rebecca J Cox et al. Nat Rev Immunol. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Recent reports that antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are not maintained in the serum following recovery from the virus have caused alarm. However, the absence of specific antibodies in the serum does not necessarily mean an absence of immune memory. Here, we discuss our current understanding of the relative contribution of B cells and T cells to immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and the implications for the development of effective treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. T cells and B cells in immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
a | Infection with SARS-CoV-2 leads to activation of innate immunity and dendritic cells (DCs), which will drive the induction of virus-specific T cell and B cell responses. Little is currently known concerning the memory response to SARS-CoV-2, but this will be important for developing an effective vaccine. b | A predicted time-course of adaptive immunity to SARS-CoV-2. CTL, cytotoxic T lymphocyte; TFH, T follicular helper cell; TH, T helper cell; Treg, regulatory T cell.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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