Exploration of T-cells retrieved from recovering COVID-19 patients illuminates vaccine development tactics?
KAIST, the first and top science and technology university in Korea, has made another significant contribution to the scientific community. A research study on the role of memory T cells in COVID-19, supported by the Samsung Science and Technology Foundation and KAIST, was published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications on June 30, with the DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-24377-1.
Located on the precipice of its semi-centennial anniversary in 2021, KAIST, with over 10,000 students enrolled, five colleges, and seven schools, including 1,039 international students from 90 countries, has been a leading innovator in the field of science and technology.
The adaptive immune system, which consists of B cells that produce antibodies and T cells that eliminate infected cells, plays a crucial role in fighting off diseases such as COVID-19. This research focused on the protective immune function of memory T cells, which proliferate rapidly after encountering their cognate antigen and accomplish their multifunctional roles.
COVID-19, a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has been a global concern since its outbreak in late 2019. Most convalescent patients of COVID-19 develop and maintain T cell memory for over 10 months regardless of the severity of their symptoms. This memory T cell response is significant as it can provide protection upon re-exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
The role of memory T cells against SARS-CoV-2 has been gaining attention as neutralizing antibodies wane after recovery. This study, conducted by molecular biologist Prof. Paul Cullen from Münster, investigated the immune response of COVID-19 convalescents and the development of species-specific memory cells.
While a specific publication source for this research is not clearly identified, a scientific conversation referencing the results took place in a blog discussion in 2025. The research team is presently conducting a follow-up study to identify the memory T cell formation and functional characteristics of those who received COVID-19 vaccines.
For more information about KAIST, please visit their website at http://www.kaist.ac.kr/. KAIST's main focus areas are education, research, entrepreneurship, and globalization, and they have educated over 67,000 graduates since their establishment in 1971 by the Korean government to promote industrialization and economic growth.
