What we already knew about the antibodies against SARS-COV-2 In our first study on patients who had recovered from COVID-19, we saw that some patients had more antibodies in their blood, and that in others the level of antibodies declined very quickly. Moreover, looking at different groups of patients all over the world (including ours),Continue reading “Why don’t we all produce the same amount of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2?”
Category Archives: Immunology
Immunology is cool!
Last week I attended the British Society for Immunology Congress in lovely Edinburgh. At last a “real” in-person congress (the online option was also available) with real interactions with other scientists from all over the United Kingdom and some international guests. When I take part in big congresses like this, with parallel sessions on differentContinue reading “Immunology is cool!”
How long do anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibodies last?
How long do anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibodies last? Do we all produce the same amount of antibodies after the infection? If not, why? To answer these questions, we analysed 2001 healthcare workers from three hospitals in London, between the first and the second waves of the pandemic in the United Kingdom. These hospitals are in East London,Continue reading “How long do anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibodies last?”
The Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine: a viral vector-based vaccine
Three different vaccines have been authorised for emergency use in the United Kingdom to control the pandemic: two of them are mRNA vaccines, and one is based on a viral vector. The latter, called AZD1222, has been developed by Oxford University in collaboration with the biopharma company Astra Zeneca. AZD1222 is based in a chimpanzeeContinue reading “The Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine: a viral vector-based vaccine”
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines: promising results in less than one year since the beginning of the pandemic
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been hoping for a vaccine to defeat the virus and get back to “normality”, a more lighthearted daily life that we had to put aside. On March 16th, a few days after the WHO had declared the pandemic, the biotech company Moderna announced the beginning of phaseContinue reading “The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines: promising results in less than one year since the beginning of the pandemic”
Serology tests for COVID-19: what they are and how they work
Serology tests detect the presence of specific proteins of interest in the serum (the liquid phase of blood after clotting). Serology tests for COVID-19 aim to detect in the serum specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (antibodies are proteins as well). The human body produces 5 different types of antibodies (IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG e IgM, whereContinue reading “Serology tests for COVID-19: what they are and how they work”
Searching for extraterrestrial microbes
All of us, at least once, have asked this question: there is life on other planets? When thinking about extraterrestrial life we usually imagine little green creatures with antennae on their head, but what scientists are looking for are microscopic organisms, more similar to bacteria than to humans. The American National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationContinue reading “Searching for extraterrestrial microbes”
Vaccines, antibodies and herd immunity (in a nutshell)
Vaccines make us immune to viruses and bacteria stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies. They have significantly contributed to reducing infant mortality and improving the health of the population. Vaccination was first introduced by Jenner in 1976. Vaccines protect not only the individual but also the entire community.
Virus&Co. 