A study from Iceland suggests that coronavirus leads to an immune response that 'goes on for months', according to Professor Luke O'Neill.
The leading immunologist says it gives cause for optimism that people may be protected from reinfection for some time.
Researchers in Iceland found that antibodies remained stable over the four months after someone was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Writing about the findings in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists said the study offered hope that "host immunity to this unpredictable and highly contagious virus may not be fleeting".
On today's Pat Kenny Show, Professor O'Neill explained that the findings are significant.
He said: "Your immune system will make antibodies in response to the virus... the big worry was [whether] they were going away in people and can you measure them. It's been a bit fraught, really.
"But the Icelandics have done a massive study - 30,000 people. They tested their blood for antibodies, and guess what: they found antibodies that persisted for months.
"It's a very accurate study, with really high sensitive ways to measure antibodies. Other tests in our hospitals, for instance, may not be so sensitive.
"Their conclusion is that 90% of people who had the infection, four months later still had high levels of antibodies - or at least detectable antibodies in their blood. This is a great thing, because maybe there is antibodies there after all."
He said the massive study carried out in Iceland is really important, and it indicates that the antibodies will kick into action if they detect coronavirus in the body again.
He said: "What you have is a b-cell, and they're making the antibodies. They become memory cells, and there are loads of them left behind after the battle is won, if you like.
"The second thing that's important is that they're kind of a sign that your immune system has been active. Maybe there are t-cells, the other key component of the immune system.
"In some ways, this Icelandic study is seen as important, because you may have a response that goes on for months, that would protect you in the future. It's an optimistic one, in a way, that you may not get reinfected."
Antibodies in Iceland, nursing homes, and possible therapies for infection are on the agenda in Prof @laoneill111's weekly COVID-19 news update on @PatKennyNT pic.twitter.com/FGGCMBo2ps
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) September 17, 2020
