Convalescent (pronounced as kon-vuh-LES-sunt, meaning 'recovering from an illness') plasma treatment is currently being tried to cure COVID-19 patients. To understand how this is being done, we must learn about plasma.
Blood consists of a fluid known as plasma that holds red blood cells (RBCs), White Blood Cells (WBCs), and platelets. Plasma is made of a mixture of 90 percent water and 10 percent ions, proteins, dissolved gases, nutrients, and wastes. Its primary function is to transport nutrients, hormones, and proteins to all the parts of the body. It also transports the waste from the cells that is to be excreted. Antibodies are an important type of protein in plasma. Antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to any pathogen (germs like bacteria, virus, and fungus). It will destroy or inactivate the pathogens.
In 1890, Emil von Adolf Behring, a German physiologist tried to find a cure for diphtheria, a disease which affects the children. He injected diphtheria toxins into guinea pigs and horses. The animals developed immunity and produced antibodies. He derived the antibodies from their blood and used them to cure non-immunised animals from the disease. Then he conducted human trials which became successful in 1894. In 1901 Behring won the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the development of serum treatment for diphtheria.
As research in medical field progressed, in 1918-19 when influenza (also called flu) was a pandemic, the plasma treatment was carried out. Later during Ebola and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory disease) also it was used.
Now COVID-19 infection is rapidly spreading in the whole world. Researchers in China first tested this plasma treatment and found it to be quite effective in reducing the severity of the illness in certain patients. Now in the US and other parts of the world many countries are trying to carry out this treatment using careful guidelines and methods.
The immune systems of COVID-19 survivors have figured out how to fight and invade SARS-CoV-2 virus. The distinctive spike proteins of the virus are used like a key to unlock the doors to the human cells to infect. They are covered by the antibodies produced by the immune system which stop further multiplication of the virus. So the plasma from a cured patient is assumed to have antibodies against the virus and this can be used to cure another patient.
Therefore, in India, under the guidelines and approval from the ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) certain states like Kerala, Delhi, Tamil Nadu are going to try this treatment for the corona infected patients.
This article is by Vanitha Ananthan
Blood consists of a fluid known as plasma that holds red blood cells (RBCs), White Blood Cells (WBCs), and platelets. Plasma is made of a mixture of 90 percent water and 10 percent ions, proteins, dissolved gases, nutrients, and wastes. Its primary function is to transport nutrients, hormones, and proteins to all the parts of the body. It also transports the waste from the cells that is to be excreted. Antibodies are an important type of protein in plasma. Antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to any pathogen (germs like bacteria, virus, and fungus). It will destroy or inactivate the pathogens.
In 1890, Emil von Adolf Behring, a German physiologist tried to find a cure for diphtheria, a disease which affects the children. He injected diphtheria toxins into guinea pigs and horses. The animals developed immunity and produced antibodies. He derived the antibodies from their blood and used them to cure non-immunised animals from the disease. Then he conducted human trials which became successful in 1894. In 1901 Behring won the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the development of serum treatment for diphtheria.
As research in medical field progressed, in 1918-19 when influenza (also called flu) was a pandemic, the plasma treatment was carried out. Later during Ebola and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory disease) also it was used.
Now COVID-19 infection is rapidly spreading in the whole world. Researchers in China first tested this plasma treatment and found it to be quite effective in reducing the severity of the illness in certain patients. Now in the US and other parts of the world many countries are trying to carry out this treatment using careful guidelines and methods.
The immune systems of COVID-19 survivors have figured out how to fight and invade SARS-CoV-2 virus. The distinctive spike proteins of the virus are used like a key to unlock the doors to the human cells to infect. They are covered by the antibodies produced by the immune system which stop further multiplication of the virus. So the plasma from a cured patient is assumed to have antibodies against the virus and this can be used to cure another patient.
Therefore, in India, under the guidelines and approval from the ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) certain states like Kerala, Delhi, Tamil Nadu are going to try this treatment for the corona infected patients.
This article is by Vanitha Ananthan
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