Lifelines and RIVM are investigating why family members of corona patients often do not get sick

Won’t they get infected or does their immune system work better against the corona virus? Lifelines and the RIVM are investigating how it is possible that family members of people who have corona often do not become ill themselves.

The population screening in the Northern Netherlands takes a closer look at tubes of blood from members of 500 families. That blood has been drawn before in Lifelines research. If it often contains antibodies against the SARS2 coronavirus, those family members may have been infected without noticing it.

“We know from our corona research that in 18 percent of families with children in the Northern Netherlands at least one person has been infected with corona,” explains lead researcher Lude Franke. “We physically examined a large group of Lifelines participants, about 10,000 people, between July and December last year, including blood samples. We are now going to serologically test that blood to see if it contains antibodies against corona. ”

Protection

In addition to the regular Lifelines study that has been conducting research among nearly 10 percent of Groningen, Drenthe and Frisians since 2006, Lifelines has been conducting regular research into the consequences of corona since last year. By comparing that data, scientists can learn more about Covid-19 disease. “Could it be that some people are somehow protected from Covid?” Says Franke. For example, it could be that certain hereditary characteristics have a protective effect, or that it is possible to undergo other diseases.

Some of the Lifelines participants have already been vaccinated. The blood test for antibodies can also clarify how well and for how long those vaccinations work and whether everyone needs the second shot.

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