Australian researchers map immune response to virus

(Patria) – Australian researchers announced on Tuesday that they have mapped the immune response of one of the first patients with the coronavirus, which is considered a significant step towards the development of a vaccine and treatment for the disease.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 168,000 people worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus, and 6,610 people have died as a result.

While most cases are mild, about 20% of patients face more severe symptoms and complications. The WHO estimates the mortality rate to be around 3.4%.

Australia's 'Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity' claims to have taken an important step in understanding the new virus. By analyzing the blood sample of a woman in her forties, they discovered that the human immune system responds to the coronavirus in the same way it fights the flu.

These findings should help scientists understand why some patients recover while others develop more serious complications such as respiratory problems.

• Our methods can be used to understand the immune responses to larger groups of COVID19, as well as what was missing in those who did not survive the disease, states Katherine Kedzierska, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Melbourne.

Researchers who observed the immune response of the Australian patient were able to accurately predict when she would recover.

This scientific step could accelerate the development of a coronavirus vaccine, as well as optimal therapy and treatment for affected patients.

Reuters reports that at least a dozen major pharmaceutical companies are already working on developing vaccines and antiviral treatments. The investment is, as always, huge and can reach $800 million, and take longer than a year due to the demanding approval procedure.