T cell responses against Variants
- July 5, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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T cell responses against Variants
Context: Researchers have found that T cells from people who have recovered from Covid-19, or received the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, are still able to recognise several SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. It found that both “helper” T cells and “killer” T cells can still recognise mutated forms of the virus.
Concept:
- The researchers tested T cell responses against Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Epsilon. They found that both vaccinated individuals and the recovered patients had cross-reactive T cells that could target these variants.
What are T Cells?
- T cells (also called T lymphocytes) are one of the major components of the adaptive immune system.
- Their roles include directly killing infected host cells, activating other immune cells, producing cytokines and regulating the immune response.
- There are two major types of T cells: the helper T cell and the cytotoxic T cell.
- As the names suggest, helper T cells ‘help’ other cells of the immune system, whilst cytotoxic T cells kill virally infected cells and tumours.