ANTIBODIES and CONVALESCENT PLASMA – What is the deal?
Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins produced by immune cells, specifically the B-Cells, in response to the presence of a foreign invader, be it a virus, tree pollen, cat dander (the worst 😜) or food. Specifically, antibodies are formed against ANTIGENS, which are many different types of molecules on the surface of foreign invaders to which an antibody binds after it is formed, then allowing the immune system to recognize it as foreign and then attack it. They are unique to each surface molecule and many different antibodies are generated for each “invader”. They don’t do much the first time you are exposed since it can take time for them to be generated, but MAY help with subsequent exposures allowing the body to respond faster. For example with Cofid, you may not have measurable antibodies for a few days after symptoms form, which could be up to 2 weeks after exposure. As to their protective effect in the future, we still don’t know. Sme antibodies provide no protection, just indication of infection, like with HIV and Hepatitis C and some antibodies provide a lot of protection, like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Sometimes you need a “booster” if too much time has passed, like with the chicken pox antibodies and the adult reactivation of the virus manifesting as shingles.
You can form many different antibodies to a particular invader since there are many types of molecules on their surfaces. Part of the problem is identifying which one is the most effective. That, along with constant mutation, is why it is difficult to make a 100% effective annual Flu vaccine. Vaccine producers have to “guestimate” what the virus will look like next season when they make the vaccine. It’s at best 30% effective.The most effective “vaccine” is actually being exposed to a live virus or polen because you form the most antibodies naturally. This can also be lethal however. Creating a vaccine artificially, i.e. a vaccine, focuses on producing one or maybe 2 antibodies and hoping that it is the most effective one.
That is why plasma from people who have been exposed to the virus MAY be helpful since those patients have a full complement of antibodies rather than only 1 or 2. Convalescent plasma is the fluid component of blood from those who survived exposure. The antibodies are in the fluid portion so basically, blood is spun in a centrifuge to get the more solid parts like cells out of it and this is then injected into someone who has the disease and hypothetically, the antibodies in the plasma help the sick person’s immune system recognize and clear the viruses. The plasma does not however help with the inflammatory response, which is a significant component of this illness. As with any other treatment, studies are small and for the most part anecdotal.
As an aside, because plasma has all the cells spun out of it, crossmatching and concern about reactions because of compatibility is not a concern since rejection and reactions are mostly associated with the cells, not plasma components. Anyone can give their plasma to anyone else. If the donor had some kind of other infectious disease like hepatitis however, you could contract that.
BUT just like bleach injections (like our “science-computer” President sort of suggested may be an option), doing it yourself at home is NOT a good idea! Don’t go kidnapping covid patients and siphoning off their blood in your basement. Then, we are REALLY in a zombie apocalypse.
As another point of interest, the term “vaccine” originated from the latin word for cow, “vacca”. Cows were used to generate the first vaccine for smallpox after British physician Edward Jenner, in 1796, used the cowpox virus (vaccinia) to confer protection against smallpox, a related virus, in humans.
Stay safe and be well.
AC 😎✌️🌱❤🐖🏃🏻🧘🏻♂️🌎