COVID-19 got you crying? Antibodies in tears may not protect against the virus

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-11-02 03:00

Australia; VIC

COVID-19 antibodies are detectable in tears following infection and vaccination, say Australian researchers, although whether they can play a protective role and actually neutralise the virus needs further investigation. The study found that while SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detectable in tears following infection and vaccination, but the authors say the levels of virus-neutralising antibodies are likely to be low, leaving people vulnerable to re-infection through eye surfaces.

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Journal/
conference: Clinical & Translational Immunology

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, WEHI, The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society, The University of New South Wales, Monash University

Funder: This work was supported by the Victorian government, the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to JAJ, AWC, SJK and Emergent Ventures Fast Grant to AWC. MPD, JAJ, AWC and SJK are supported by NHMRC Fellowships.

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