Quote:
Originally Posted by javadog
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Good read.
"Natural infection also conveys both "N" (nucleocapsid) and "S" (spike) antibody knowledge and T-cell recognition but the "N" knowledge is much stronger as coronaviruses have evolved to evade the immune system with the "S" portion through millions of years. This is why they can infect you in the first place. The "S" portion undergoes mutation at a quite-rapid rate while the "N" portion is conserved. It was thus expected that prior infection would lead to durable (years to decades) of resistance and indeed that's exactly what we have found thus far. Indeed in a small study it was found that this recognition extended to the bone marrow in a large percentage of cases and in those people is likely to confer decades-long if not lifetime protection. This is not true for "S" induced immunity as it wanes rapidly and, far worse that is where the mutation is taking place and thus where escape risk lies."
Interesting.
Anti-N tests look for antibodies that recognise a molecule inside the virus called the nucleocapsid (N). These are only produced if you have caught COVID-19 previously, and show natural immunity.
Anti-S tests detect antibodies against the spike protein (S) on the surface of the virus. Because COVID vaccines are based on the spike protein, anti-S tests detect antibodies produced both through natural infection and vaccination.