Everyone seems to have a unique immune system. My colleagues and I discovered this immune diversity after mapping the antibodies in the blood of healthy people and patients. This finding may help explain why the COVID vaccine seems to be less effective for some people. At the same time, it points to the possibility of identifying and retrieving particularly effective antibodies from individuals and using them to cure others.
In our daily life, our body will face the attacks and attacks of many germs. These germs enter our body with clever tricks for the purpose of control. Fortunately, we have a strong defense system: our immune system.
With a well-functioning immune system, we can fight most bacteria that are constantly and actively approaching us. Part of our arsenal of neutralizing invading bacteria are protein molecules called antibodies. These antibodies are abundant in the blood and flow throughout our body, forming the first line of defense when new harmful bacteria appear.
Each different kind of bacteria needs a different arsenal (antibodies) to fight them most effectively. Fortunately, our body provides us with a way to make millions or even billions of different antibodies, but they cannot be produced at the same time. Generally, specific antibodies are only produced as a response to specific bacteria.
If we are infected by bacteria, we will start to make antibodies to attack and kill these bacteria. If we are infected by the coronavirus, we will start to make antibodies to neutralize the virus. When we were infected with the flu virus, we made other viruses.
We don’t know how many different antibodies are produced at a particular moment and therefore exist in our blood. Many scientists estimate it to exceed billions, so it is almost incalculable. Using a few drops of blood and a technique called mass spectrometry, my colleagues and I were able to capture and measure the number of different antibodies in the blood and assess the exact concentration of each antibody.
Two surprises
Although in theory, our body has the ability to produce trillions of different antibodies, when we notice that there are only tens to hundreds of different antibodies in the blood of healthy people and patients with high concentrations, the first A surprise appeared.
Monitoring these characteristics from just a few drops of blood, we were surprised for the second time when we noticed that the way the immune system reacts to bacteria varies from person to person, and that each person’s antibody profile is unique. The concentration of these antibodies changes in a unique way during illness or after vaccination. The results can explain why some people are more likely to get sick from flu or COVID, or why they recover from certain diseases faster than others.
Until now, scientists thought it was impossible to accurately map the highly complex mixture of antibodies in the blood. But mass spectrometry separates substances based on their molecular composition, and since each specific antibody has a different molecular composition, we can use improvements in this technology to measure all antibodies individually.
This method has been used to measure the antibody profile of approximately 100 people, including COVID patients and people who have been vaccinated with different COVID vaccines. We have never encountered the same antibodies in two different people, even if they were vaccinated with the same vaccine. It is safe to say that everyone’s antibody profile is as unique as their fingerprints.
Although the differences in antibodies are small, they have a great influence on the course of the disease. If someone produces fewer antibodies against a certain bacteria, or only produces antibodies that are less effective at killing the bacteria, the disease may be more severe or have multiple attacks. On the other hand, if people produce antibodies that can neutralize bacteria well, then such antibodies can be produced therapeutically and used to vaccinate or treat patients.
Our research creates an opportunity to tailor the best vaccinations and medications for the individual’s immune system. By mapping someone’s antibody profile, you can track their body’s response to vaccines or infections—even medications. In this way, you can also check whether your body has produced enough antibodies, such as antibodies against coronavirus. If they produce insufficient amounts, you can consider providing booster injections or antibodies that are effective for other people.
This article is republished from – The Conversation – Read the – original article.
