This archive report was first published on 3 July 2020.
Scientists at Peking Union Medical College have made a significant discovery in the fight against Covid-19. According to a study published in the journal Science on July 3, 2020, test monkeys infected with the novel coronavirus responsible for the pandemic developed short-term immunity.
The study involved six rhesus macaques, which are often used in research due to their similarities to humans. The monkeys were infected with a dose of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and developed mild to moderate symptoms. After two weeks, they had recovered.
Twenty-eight days later, four of the six monkeys were given another dose of the virus. However, they showed no signs of reinfection, despite a brief rise in temperature. The researchers discovered that the monkeys had produced more neutralizing antibodies after the first infection, which may have protected them against short-term reinfection.
While this finding is promising, it's essential to note that it's unclear how long this immunity will last in humans. The study's authors emphasized the need for further experiments to determine the duration of this immune defense.
