Published 14:06 IST, July 4th 2020

Monkeys infected with COVID-19 develop short-term immunity against reinfection: Study

Test monkeys infected with the novel Coronavirus developed short-term immunity against reinfection. Study was conducted by Peking Union Medical College in China

Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

Test monkeys infected with vel Coronavirus were observed to develop short-term immunity against reinfection in China. Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) in China was experimenting on rhesus macaques, a species of old world monkeys, owing to ir similarity to humans, on effects of coronavirus on primates when y discovered something far more interesting.

monkeys h developed a short-term immunity to virus, even after showing signs of mild-to-moderate symptoms initially and taking about two weeks to recover, primates were longer under risk of transmitting or infecting virus after 28 days since first infection. 

Advertisement

Re | ICMR fast-tracks Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin' Covid vaccine; enviss launch by August 15

Scientists from PUMC picked up six rhesus macaques and infected ir trachea (windpipe) with a dose of SARS-CoV02 virus to study how virus impacted ir system. By taking frequent samples, scientists discovered that viral infection capacity h peaked in just three days. 

Advertisement

monkeys also showed a stronger immune response after first dose of infection, producing more neutral antibodies to fight COVID-19, which according to scientists, incidentally may have protected m from short-term reinfections. 

Re | Elon Musk reveals Tesla building RNA micro-factories for firm developing COVID-19 vaccine

Advertisement

Although this is a unique breakthrough in study of COVID-19, researchers mit that more experiments are needed to furr understanding of monkeys' immune system and defence mechanisms.

In ar similar case study conducted on monkeys in Chicago, in month of May, scientists hinted that re was evidence to believe surviving COVID-19 may result in immunity from reinfection and that it is a positive sign since possible vaccines were also under development all over world.

Advertisement

researchers came to conclusion by infecting a group of 9 monkeys with coronavirus and after y recovered, y showed signs of sickness again despite team exposing primates to virus again multiple times, under different laboratory conditions.
Re | Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech's MD: Recruitment for COVID vaccine trial 'herculean task'

Re | Anthony Fauci warns US may t reach herd immunity if only two-thirds take vaccine

Advertisement

14:05 IST, July 4th 2020