It examined levels of cross-reactive T cells produced by earlier common colds in 52 household contacts of positive COVID-19 cases.
The researchers found that the 26 who did not develop infection had notably higher levels of those T cells than people who did get infected.The study did not say how long protection from the T cells would last.
Kundu said, "We found that high levels of pre-existing T cells, created by the body when infected with other human coronaviruses like the common cold, can protect against COVID-19 infection.".
The team that wrote about the research said that the T cells targeted proteins inside the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Current COVID-19 vaccines target the spike protein, a protein on the outside surface of the virus, which changes or mutates regularly.These changes in the spike protein also reduce the effectiveness of vaccines against infections that show physical signs