Immune responses in convalescent Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID19 individuals

It is becoming increasingly clear that some people can have COVID19 but show no symptoms of the disease (asymptomatic infection) while others feel unwell and have a number of symptoms. Why this is the case is unknown, but a critical difference could be the type of immune responses people mount to this virus infection.

The University of Cambridge has an extensive weekly COVID19 PCR testing programme offered to its students; this provides researchers with a unique opportunity to identify asymptomatic COVID19 positive people. Using blood from both asymptomatic as well as symptomatic people, we will be able measure their immune responses to the virus (such as antibody responses as well as a variety of other important immune cells). It is hoped that a better understanding of this difference will help our understanding of what responses are protective and why some people become unwell.