Detection of anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in sera from COVID19 patients [Funder: MI4]

Herd immunity is an important factor in ending social isolation measures. If enough people are immune to COVID-19, the virus can no longer transmit effectively, so the spread of infection stops. MI4 researchers Dr. Greg Matlashewski, Dr. Matthew Cheng, Dr. Momar Ndao and Dr. Cedric Yansouni are studying blood samples from COVID patients and asymptomatic people to determine when antibodies to the virus appear. Antibodies are proteins produced by the body in response to infections, such as COVID-19, that can protect against future exposures to the virus. In theory, if you have COVID-19 antibodies, you cannot contract the disease a second time. By understanding when antibodies form in patients with COVID-19 and asymptomatic carriers, the researchers will be able to recommend testing measures that can show us who is protected from disease. This knowledge is important because it allows us to assess how much herd immunity there is in the population.