Months after recovering from mild cases of COVID-19, people still have immune cells which produce antibodies against the novel coronavirus, according to a study. During a viral infection, antibody-producing immune cells rapidly multiply and circulate in the blood, driving antibody levels sky-high. A small population of antibody-producing cells, called long-lived plasma cells, migrate to the bone marrow and settle in, the researchers said. Fifteen of the 19 bone marrow samples from people who had had COVID-19 contained antibody-producing cells specifically targeting the virus that causes COVID-19, the researchers said. According to the researchers, none of the 11 people who had never had COVID-19 had such antibody-producing cells in their bone marrow.

Source: The Hindu May 26, 2021 08:13 UTC