Question

What adaptive immune cell is responsible for killing our cells that are infected with COVID-19?

Answer 1

• There are two type of immunity, that is adaptive immunity and innate immunity.
• Virus specific CD-4 and CD-8 T cells play an important role in eliminating virus by kiliing Corona virus infected cells.
• When there is engangement of T cell receptor ( TCR) with peptide -MHC complex and additional co-stimulatory signals, T cells become activated
• this leads to proliferation of T cells and migrate to the site of infection.
• At the site of infection , activated virus - specific effector T cell produce antiviral cytokines( IFN-) , chemokines and cytotoxic molecules ( perforin and granzyme B)
• Cytokines such as IFN-​ directly inhibit viral replication and enhance antigen presentation.
• cytotoxic molecules such granzyme B directly kill infected epithelial cells and help in elimination of pathogen.