Coronavirus research currently underway at the UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT)

There are two major components of the human immune system involved in fighting it. First, a fast-acting component helps reduce the initial virus load, but is unable to eliminate the virus. About seven days later, a slower-acting component produces antibodies that can attach to the virus and stop it from infecting cells in the patient’s airways. It also produces killer cells that can recognise and eliminate airway cells already infected with the virus. Together, the antibodies and killer cells clear the virus from the patient’s system.

Researchers do not yet know all the details of the antibodies and killer cells that can eliminate coronavirus, or for how long the antibodies and killer cells will persist in the patients after recovery. Determining whether the antibodies and killer cells will protect patients from future infection will give us critical information about the testing of future vaccines. 

We are grateful to all patients who choose to participate in these research studies.

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• Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH via Flickr