New Research Shows Evidence of 'Superhuman' Immunity to COVID-19 in Some Individuals
Click to enlarge this image. Caption Christoph Burgstedt/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Christoph Burgstedt/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
It has been called "superhuman immunity" and "bulletproof" by some scientists. However, Shane Crotty, an immunologist prefers "hybrid immune."
Crotty commented in Science in June that hybrid immunity to SARS/CoV-2 appeared to be "overall" powerful.
This immunity, no matter what it is called, offers much-needed good news amid the seemingly endless stream of negative news about COVID-19.
A series of studies over the past few months has shown that certain people have an extremely strong immune response to SARS-CoV-2. They produce high levels of antibodies but also have antibodies that are flexible and capable of fighting the various variants of coronaviruses circulating around the world. These antibodies may also be effective against future variants.
Paul Bieniasz (virologist at Rockefeller University), who was involved in several of these studies, said that it is possible to predict that these people would be well-protected from most, and possibly all, of the SARS CoV-2 variants.
Bieniasz's colleagues published a study online last month that found that these antibodies can neutralize six of the most serious variants of SARS-CoV-2 viruses, including beta and delta, as well as several other viruses that are related to SARS, such as two in pangolins, and the one that led to the first coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-1).
Bieniasz states that although this is speculative, I believe they would be protected against SARS-like viruses which have yet to infect people.
Who is capable of creating this "superhuman" or hybrid immune response?
People who have been exposed to the virus in a hybrid way. They were first infected in 2020 with COVID-19 and then were immunized this year with mRNA vaccines. According to Theodora Hatziioannou, virologist at Rockefeller University and who was also involved in several of the studies, "Those people have amazing reactions to the vaccine." They are the best people to fight the virus, I believe. These antibodies can neutralize SARS CoV-1, the coronavirus that first emerged twenty years ago. This virus is quite different from SARS CoV-2.
These antibodies can even be used to fight off viruses that have been deliberately made resistant to neutralization. The virus contained 20 mutations known to block SARS-CoV-2 antibody binding. This mutant virus was ineffective against antibodies from those who had not been vaccinated, or had COVID infection. However, antibodies from people with "hybrid immunity", could neutralize the virus.
She says these findings demonstrate how effective mRNA vaccines are in people who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. "There is a lot of research going on now to find a pan-coronavirus vaccine which would protect against all future variants. We have it, according to our findings.
But there is a catch. She adds that you must first be ill with COVID. The antibodies appear to become more powerful and wider after natural infections. They are more resistant to [virus] mutations."
Hatziioannou, her colleagues and others don't know if all patients who have had COVID-19 followed by an mRNA vaccination will experience such a remarkable immune reaction. She says that the phenomenon has been studied only with a small number of patients, as it is difficult and laborious to study.
She suspects that it is quite common. "We saw the same thing with every patient we studied." The study includes data from 14 patients.
Numerous other studies back her hypothesis. They support the notion that both an mRNA and coronavirus vaccine can trigger an extremely powerful immune response. One study published in the New England Journal of Medicine last month examined antibodies produced by individuals who were infected with SARS-CoV-1 in 2002 or 2003. Then, they received an mRNA vaccination this year.
These people produced remarkable levels of antibodies. It's worth repeating this point from a few paragraphs over antibodies that could neutralize many variants and SARS-like virus.
There are many questions that remain. What happens if you get COVID even after being vaccinated? A booster dose of vaccine can be used to give a "superhuman" response.
Hatziiannou states that she cannot answer both of these questions. "I am pretty sure that a third shot will help an individual's antibodies evolve further. They may acquire some breadth or flexibility, but it is unclear if they will ever be able to attain the breadth you see after natural infection.
John Wherry, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania is optimistic. He says that some of the antibody evolution seen in individuals who have just been vaccinated is already evident, but it may be faster in those who have been infected.
Wherry and his collaborators have shown that people who have received only two doses (and not prior infections) of the vaccine over time develop more flexible antibodies, which can be used to recognize many variants of concern.
Wherry states that a third dose would give the antibodies an extra boost and help the evolution of the antibodies. This will make it easier for a person to combat any new variant of the virus.
Paul Bieniasz, Rockefeller University says that "based on all these findings it seems like the immune system will eventually have the edge over the virus." "And, if we're fortunate, SARS-CoV-2 may eventually fall into the category of viruses that gives only mild colds."
