VOA慢速英语--抗体研究为新冠疫苗治疗提供了希望

Researchers say antibodies, made by the human body to fight the new coronavirus, could last for at least four months. Earlier reports suggested that these special proteins disappeared quickly.

Galit Alter and Dr. Robert Seder are scientists from Harvard University and the U.S. National Institutes of Health. They wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine: "This study provides hope that host immunity¹ to this unpredictable and highly contagious² virus may not be fleeting³."

The report, released this week, came from tests on more than 30,000 people in Iceland over four months. It is the most complete study yet on one of the body's natural defenses against the new coronavirus.

Researchers used two different tests for the study. They used nose swabs or similar materials to find out if people were infected. They also measured antibodies in people's blood, which can show whether a person is currently infected or was in the past. Blood samples were taken from many different people. The samples came from those who showed no effects of infection to those who were hospitalized with signs of COVID-19.

In a smaller group of people who had the virus, additional testing found that antibodies rose for two months after the infection was first diagnosed and stayed at the same level for four months.

The scientists said earlier studies may have only observed the first wave of antibodies 28 days after diagnosis⁴. These studies suggested that the antibodies disappeared quickly. The second wave of antibodies that form after one or two months seem to last longer, the researchers reported.

The study also found blood tests are far more dependable and better for following the spread of the disease in an area. Nearly a third of infections were in people who reported no symptoms. Researchers said this would help guide decisions to return people to work or school.

The results of the Iceland study do not mean that all countries' populations will be the same or that every person has the same reaction.

The study did not establish how much or which kind of antibody provides protection against COVID-19 infections. Recently, some scientists documented at least two cases where people seemed to have become re-infected months after having COVID-19.

Dr. Derek Angus is critical care chief at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He said the news that natural antibodies do not quickly disappear "will be encouraging for people working on vaccines⁵."

I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.

Words in This Story

immunity –n. the ability to keep from being infected by a disease

contagious –adj. able to spread from person to person easily

fleeting –adj. lasting⁶ only a short time

swab –n. materials used to collect something from the body for medical tests

diagnose –v. to recognize a disease or illness in someone through medial methods

symptom –n. a change in the body that shows that a disease is present

encouraging –adj. giving hope that things will get better

1 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

2 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

3 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

4 diagnosis   

n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断

参考例句：

• His symptoms gave no obvious pointer to a possible diagnosis.他的症状无法作出明确的诊断。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做一次彻底的调查分析。

5 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

6 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。