The press service indicated that Russian scientists have identified the first clear example of how the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can develop resistance to immune defenses. These findings were associated with Skoltech and a collaborative team from Russia and the United States. The researchers tracked how the virus evolves inside a patient over time, revealing that an extended infection can foster mutations that help the virus evade immune recognition by T-lymphocytes. In a patient who had been ill for more than 300 days, the virus accumulated changes that reduced the ability of T cells to identify and respond to it, complicating the body’s cellular defense mechanisms.
According to the study by Skoltech researchers and their international colleagues, the coronavirus can not only withstand neutralizing antibodies but also become less visible to T cell surveillance. This adaptive escape from the immune system has significant implications for therapies and vaccine strategies, underscoring the importance of monitoring viral evolution within hosts and across populations. The work adds a new dimension to the understanding of how immune pressure shapes viral mutation patterns over prolonged infections and highlights the need for ongoing vigilance in treatment approaches and public health planning. (citation: Skoltech and collaborators)
In Russia, health authorities reported 9,826 confirmed coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. The operational headquarters on Telegram, which tracks the spread of COVID-19, provided these figures. The daily statistics also showed that 1,662 individuals were hospitalized, a figure that reflects a substantial uptick in severe cases compared with recent days. On the flip side, 10,420 people recovered from the illness, a rise of more than 60 percent from the previous day, illustrating a complex pattern of disease activity and recovery. Tragically, 35 residents lost their lives to the virus in the same 24-hour period. These numbers mirror the ongoing ebb and flow of the pandemic, with gains in recovery balanced by the persistence of new infections and the potential burden on healthcare facilities.
Analysts note that the current wave appears to be influenced by seasonal factors and the interplay with circulating strains. Andrey Ryabkov, who leads the treatment department of the online health management service Budu, remarked that a new wave of COVID-19 infections could emerge following the seasonal flu season in spring and summer. The statement aligns with historical patterns where respiratory viruses tend to surge after flu peaks, emphasizing the importance of continued vaccination efforts, public health surveillance, and adaptable clinical strategies to address shifting risk levels in different regions.