Why antibodies aren't the only defense against Omicron

Covid-19.

A scientist studies a sample of Coronavirus antibody to produce drug treatment for Covid-19. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Trained by both vaccines and infection, antibodies grab on to the spike protein that studs the surface of the coronavirus, stopping it from penetrating cells and sickening the host.
  • But while antibodies are rightly celebrated, they're not the only game in town.
  • In fact, "there's a complex and coordinated response that is really beautiful from an evolutionary standpoint," Harvard immunologist Roger Shapiro explains.