Everyone wants to know if they are immune to COVID
How can we tell?
COVID and immunity??
Everyone wants to know if they are immune to COVID.
How can we tell?
The traditional method to test for immunity is to take a blood test and look for COVID antibodies. The two types of antibodies presently being tested are the S-protein antibody and the N-protein antibody.
What are these antibodies and do they indicate COVID immunity?
The S-protein antibody test looks for antibodies against the Spike protein from the original strain of COVID. Let’s call this the Alpha strain. The COVID vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and J&J in use in the USA contain mRNA that instructs your cells to produce the spike protein from the Alpha strain. The Alpha strain spike protein your cells produce are then moved to the outside of the cell where your immune system sees them as foreign and begins the process of producing antibodies. These antibodies against the Alpha strain spike protein are called S-antibodies. So if you show antibodies to the Alpha strain S-protein it indicates that you had an immune reaction to the mRNA spike protein component of the vaccine. You may also show antibodies to the S-protein if you had and recovered from a natural COVID infection.
What is hopefully being debated is whether the alpha strain S-protein antibodies produced via COVID vaccination works well against newer strains of COVID such as the Delta strain.
The N-protein antibody test looks for a different protein called the nucleocapsid of the SARS-COV-2 virus. Antibodies to the N-protein indicate past natural infection to the virus that causes COVID. The N-antibodies are not produced in people who were given Alpha strain mRNA COVID vaccines as the vaccines do not contain mRNA for this protein. So far I have not seen any research indicating that the N-protein has changed with the new strains.
So we should now be able to distinguish between vaccine induced antibodies (S-protein) and antibodies from natural infection (N-protein).
Question: Are the antibodies above sterilizing, meaning, do the antibodies provide protection against contracting and spreading infection, in this case COVID?
Sterilizing vaccinations that do provide this type of protection include MMR, polio and other childhood vaccines.
If the COVID vaccines presently in use do provide sterilizing protection then vaccinated people would not be able to contract nor spread COVID.
Unfortunately the present COVID vaccines are not sterilizing. This is known as having a “leaky” vaccine. The leaky vaccine might confer some protection but how much is not really known and is still being debated, at least where debate and discussion is allowed.
The belief is the N-protein antibodies produced from fighting off an actual COVID infection just might be sterilizing. If so these antibodies derived from natural infection would confer immunity, at least that seemed to be the prevailing thought and science pre-COVID. Another likely possibility is that fighting off a natural infection produces antibodies against many different proteins on SARS-2 virus other than just the N and S proteins.
Maybe this is an example of the more the better?
Better results thru teamwork?
Perhaps it is the combination of antibodies working together that is sterilizing and protective?
We need more unbiased research.
There is another test that checks for past COVID infection or infections that are very similar to COVID. This is the T-Cell Detect test by Adaptive Technologies that looks for SARS specific T-Cells via a blood test. T-Cells are another part of your immune system called the Adaptive immune system. They usually work with B-Cells which are the cells that also produce antibodies.
If the T-Cell test is Positive it indicates that you have been previously exposed to COVID or a very similar SARS virus. The belief is a positive result confers natural immunity to COVID, most likely long lived, at least that was the prevailing scientific thought pre-COVID.
Has this thought/science changed since COVID? If so why? Those are questions that need to be openly discussed. More research needs to be done here.
Back in 2003 the original SARS-1 virus occurred in Asia. Fortunately SARS-1 was contained. However people who had SARS-1 and survived still have T-Cells in their body that provides them natural immunity not only to SARS-1 but also SARS-2/COVID. I find that very interesting as well as evidence that the T-Cells specific for SARS-1 or 2 should confer long lived natural immunity. But as always, more research is always needed.
For the past almost two months the T-Cell test from Adaptive Technologies has been available at the IMW. So far we have completed 24 tests. Of the 24 tests only 4 have come back as positive. This is surprising to me as this is after almost 2 years that COVID has been circulating.
What could this mean that so few people have T-Cells indicating exposure to COVID?
COVID is not as contagious as we once thought ??
Hiding in our basements during lockdowns prevented spread?? nah- not for almost 2 years
Strong innate immune system knocks COVID out before the adaptive immune system and T-Cells can form?? maybe, but would need unbiased experts in immunology to chip in here.
T-Cell test not accurate?? nah- I’ve spoken with multiple representatives and the lab director of Adaptive Technologies. I’m comfortable with what I have heard.
T-Cell test does not stay positive past a short period of time?? nah- look at SARS-1
Wearing masks and social distancing slowed the spread of COVID?? nah - you would need a perfect record from everyone to pull this off. And believe me, everyone is not wearing masks nor social distancing.
What are some other possibilities?
I want to hear from everyone with an opinion?
24 T-Cell tests is not a true representative scientific sample. I can not say from 24 samples what would happen to a population. But my theory from 30 years of practicing Experienced Based Medicine would be:
COVID, while dangerous for those at high risk, does not appear as contagious as we think it is or have been told. Only 4 out of 24 tests positive after almost 2 years?? Makes me think. How bout you??
By now we have seen pictures of world leaders meeting during COVID with masks on for the cameras and then off after, yet still meeting and embracing. Do they know something we do not? If so I’d like to know.
How about all the sports venues and concerts or political rallies? We should have heard of major increases in cases due to these events, but have we?
How about all the grocery store employees who worked every day throughout the pandemic with and without masks? Why do we not hear stories of a pandemic of these workers or should I say heroes for continuing to do their jobs throughout this pandemic? How about all healthcare professionals working with COVID patients prior to and even after vaccinations?
What else can we do to protect ourselves from COVID other than what we are told by public health?
Our innate immune system is our first line of defense and is not dependent upon T-Cells and antibodies. I find that our innate immune system is highly dependent on a well balanced metabolic and immune system and does a great job of protecting us from COVID, viruses and other invading organisms.
Perhaps a strong innate immune system is our best defense?
Perhaps keeping your metabolism and immune system well functioning is our best defense?
Psst- I find a Paleo-ish Keto-ish diet is very helpful.
If you need help with these diet/lifestyle changes, you know who to contact.
Perhaps we have all been exposed to COVID but it has not gotten past our innate immune defenses, so wouldn’t register a T-Cell, B-Cell or antibody defense?
I am not an immunologist so if there are any immunologists reading this, please correct me where I am wrong. I want to get it right, not prove my theories right. I am trying to advance and open up discussions so we can get a better hand on COVID moving in to the Winter.
To sum it up:
Until we have more research and data, it looks like having N-antibodies to COVID or being COVID T-Cell positive confers natural immunity to COVID that resulted from previous infection. I may be wrong. But for right now this is where the data and research seem to be heading. I hope this is true as it will move us closer to herd immunity and an end to COVID.
Hopefully then our world will return to normal, as opposed to the new normal that many in positions of power seem to be leading us.
I believe I had a mild case of COVID in March 2020 when I was living in NYC. I have since tested negative for SARS antibodies and T-cells are negative as well. I am 72 and have been low-carb for 20 years. I take supplements to support my immune system. I’d love to know what’s really going on.
Dentist worked all through lockdown doing emergencies then have been seeing patients for routine and complex treatment since. Had positive PCR last November eldest son was patient zero brought it home from gym! His girlfriend negative PCR no symptoms, me mild sinusitis only possible symptom, 3 others lost sense taste smell felt tired, 6 th member flu symptoms for 6 days lost taste smell appetite never any breathing difficulties. One family story showing variation in severity.