The body can produce antibodies after a vaccination or after an infection
Local antibodies at the place where the coronavirus enters the body help stop a corona infection early. This ensures fewer complaints and less spread of the virus. Research by the RIVM shows that almost all Dutch people aged 12 and older now have these local antibodies in their bodies.
Building immune system protection against the coronavirus is important to prevent illness. This protection is called immunity. Antibodies are part of this protection. The body can produce antibodies after a vaccination or after an infection. In both cases, antibodies protect against disease if someone is infected with the coronavirus.
Protection against becoming infected
Immunity often protects better against serious illness than against becoming infected. Researchers think that to protect against becoming infected, better protection by the immune system is needed at the site where the virus infects. The coronavirus infects people through the upper respiratory tract. That is why RIVM investigated immunity against the coronavirus SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)-CoV (coronavirus)-2 in the upper respiratory tract. This local immunity is also called mucosal (named after the mucus on the mucous membranes) immunity.
Virus cleared faster
In the event of an infection, immunity in the upper respiratory tract can fight the virus more quickly, because the immune system immediately recognizes the virus and can clear it. This stops the infection and an infected person has fewer complaints. Another advantage is that the body clears the virus faster. For example, immunity in the upper respiratory tract ensures less transmission of the virus between people.
Research into local immunity against coronavirus
Researchers from the RIVM have investigated immunity in the upper respiratory tract. Some of the participants in the PIENTER Corona study submitted a little mucus from their nose for this purpose. The researchers took measurements on these nasal mucus samples. This shows that almost all Dutch people aged 12 years and older now have local antibodies of the IgG (Immunoglobulin G) type that recognize SARS-CoV-2.
Antibodies against multiple variants
The amount of antibodies is higher in people who have also had an infection in addition to vaccination. Locally in the respiratory tract, antibodies of the IgA type (Immunoglobulin A) are also important for protection against infections. IgA antibodies were mainly found in people who had also been infected. The researchers found antibodies against the old variant and against the omikron variant.
Local antibodies prevent virus from binding
Part of the coronavirus’ spike protein can bind to a protein on the cells of the respiratory tract. By binding to this protein, the virus can infect people. The antibodies in the respiratory tract appear to be able to prevent this part of the virus from binding to the protein on the cells. Because the antibodies prevent this binding, they protect against infection by the virus. It also turned out that people with more of these local antibodies against the virus became infected less often.
This research shows that local immunity in the Dutch population is improving. This local defense helps fight the virus. Read more in the scientific article: Protective mucosal SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the majority of the general population in the Netherlands.
Source: RIVM
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