covid: Study finds a longer lasting Covid vaccine
CALIFORNIA: Researchers have found rare naturally occurring T cells that are capable of targeting a protein found in SARS-CoV-2 and a range of other coronaviruses. The study has been published in the 'Cell Reports Journal'. The findings suggested that a component of this protein, called viral polymerase, could potentially be added to Covid-19 vaccines to create a longer-lasting immune response and increase protection against new variants of the virus. Most Covid-19 vaccines use a part of the spike protein found on the surface of the virus to prompt the immune system to produce antibodies. However, newer variants -- such as delta and omicron -- carry mutations to the spike protein, which can make them less recognizable to the immune cells and antibodies stimulated by vaccination. Researchers said that a new generation of vaccines will likely be needed to create a more robust and wide-ranging immune response capable of beating back current variants and those that may arise in