Local antibodies at the site where the coronavirus enters the body help stop a SARS-CoV-2 infection early. Research by the RIVM shows that almost all Dutch people aged 12 and older now have these local antibodies in their bodies.
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. Researchers from the RIVM therefore 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 type that recognize SARS-CoV-2.
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 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. People with more local antibodies against the virus also became infected less often.
Source:
RIVM
Tags: people local antibodies coronavirus
