2 new studies offer optimism that coronavirus antibodies provide immunity
Two new peer-reviewed studies published in Science on Wednesday have scientists feeling optimistic about coronavirus antibodies providing both natural and vaccine-induced immunity against future infections, The Boston Globe reports.
The research teams led by Dr. Dan Barouch, head of Beth Israel's Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, found rhesus macaque monkeys were immune to the coronavirus after being re-injected with the live virus following recovery from their initial infection. And a separate study found two doses of one of six DNA vaccine prototypes — ones that use the genetic code for portions of a protein the coronavirus likely uses to invade cells — also provided protection.
DNA vaccines reportedly aren't in development for human testing, and scientists are reportedly skeptical of their efficacy, but that's why some are excited about the results of the study. The fact that DNA vaccines worked on the monkeys and in some cases developed antibodies at levels comparable to those produced by the response to the live virus "really tell you this is doable," said Dr. Michael Nelson, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Barouch was cautious about the results, noting that more research needs to be done in humans. Rhesus macaques, which are frequent test subjects in global coronavirus research, are about as close as scientists can get to humans in terms of genetic makeup, but they're still a different species. And the jury is still out on how long immunity might last. Still, Barouch believes the findings are a cause for optimism. "Our team found this data very compelling," he said. Read more at The Boston Globe.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Are 'judge shopping' rules a blow to Republicans?
Today's Big Question How the abortion pill case got to the Supreme Court
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Climate change is driving Indian women to choose sterilization
under the radar Faced with losing their jobs, they are making a life-altering decision
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
'A great culture will be lost if the EV brigade gets its way'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
US bans final type of asbestos
Speed Read Exposure to asbestos causes about 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Seattle Children's Hospital sues Texas over 'sham' demand for transgender medical records
Speed Read Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton subpoenaed records of any Texan who received gender-affirming care at the Washington hospital
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Afghanistan has a growing female suicide problem
Speed Read The Taliban has steadily whittled away women's and girls' rights in Afghanistan over the past 2 years, prompting a surge in depression and suicide
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US life expectancy rose in 2022 but not to pre-pandemic levels
Speed Read Life expectancy is slowly crawling back up
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Vallance diaries: Boris Johnson 'bamboozled' by Covid science
Speed Read Then PM struggled to get his head around key terms and stats, chief scientific advisor claims
By The Week UK Published
-
An increasing number of dog owners are 'vaccine hesitant' about rabies
Speed Read A new survey points to canine vaccine hesitancy
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Anger may be a powerful motivator for tough goals, new study suggests
Speed Read Keeping your cool might actually be less efficient than letting your anger drive you
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
A tropical skin disease is making the rounds in the US
Speed Read Leishmaniasis is endemic to the country and can cause ulcers and disfiguration
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published