California: Researchers have found T cells that are rarely natural that are able to target proteins found at SARS-COV-2 and various other coronaviruses.
This study has been published in ‘journal cell reports’.
These findings suggest that this protein component, called the polymerase virus, has the potential to be added to the Covid-19 vaccine to create an immune response that is more durable and increases protection against a new variant of the virus.
Most Covid-19 vaccines use part of a surge protein found on the surface of the virus to encourage the immune system to produce antibodies.
However, a newer variant – like Delta and Omicron – bring mutations to a surge in protein, which can make it less recognized with immune cells and antibodies stimulated by vaccination.
The researchers say that the new generation of vaccines is likely to be needed to create a stronger and vigorous immune response that can defeat the current variants and those who may arise in the future.
One way to achieve this is by adding different viral protein fragments to vaccines – one that is less susceptible to mutations than a surge protein and which will activate the body of the immune system.
T cells are equipped with molecular receptors on the surface of those who recognize foreign protein fragments called antigens.
When T cells face the receptor antigens, it is replicated itself and produces additional immune cells, some of which are targeting and killing infected cells immediately and others who remain in the body for decades to combat the same infection if there is the same infection.
The researchers focus on polymerase virus proteins, which are found not only at SARS-COV-2 but in other coronavirus, including those that cause SARS, mer and ordinary colds.
Polymerase virus functions as a machine used by Coronavirus to make copies of themselves, allowing infections to spread.
Unlike the surge protein, the polymerase virus is not possible to change or mutate, even as a developing virus.
To determine whether the human immune system was able to recognize the polymerase virus, the researchers exposed blood samples from healthy human donors (collected before the Covid-19 pandemic) against the viral polymerase antigens.
They found that certain cell receptors do it, in fact, recognize polymerase.
They then use the method they developed called Clint-seq for genetically the order of this receptor.
Furthermore, the researchers engineered T cells to bring this polymerase targeting receptor, which allowed them to study the ability of receptors to recognize and kill SARS-COV-2 and other Coronavirus.
More than 5 million people died of Covid-19 throughout the world.
The current vaccine provides significant protection against severe diseases, but as a new variant, potentially more contagious appears, the researchers recognize that vaccines may need to be updated – and the new UCLA findings show strategies that can improve long-term protection and immunity.
The researchers now conducted further studies to evaluate the polymerase virus as a potential new vaccine component.
Pavlo Nesterenko, a UCLA graduate student, is the first author of the study; The appropriate writer is Dr.
Owen Witte, who holds the president’s seat in the immunology of developments in the microbial department of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics and is the director of the founding of the emeritus of a broad stem cell research center.
This research is supported by Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, A Ruth L.
Kirschstein Institutional National Research Award from the National Institutes of Health and UCLA W.M.
Kecake Foundation Research Program Covid-19.