T-Cells Archives - Lyme Time

The immune system is home to various cells, all of which have their own jobs to do when it comes to keeping the body functioning and healthy. Immune cells are broken up into several categorizations: lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, and neutrophils. Within the lymphocyte grouping, there are T-cells, B-cells, and natural killer cells.

T-cells are designed to start a reaction against specific pathogens, which then signals B-cells to start creating antibodies – proteins designed to help the body fight off pathogens. Natural killer cells are then tasked with activating receptors that lead to the production of small proteins that can kill the pathogen or limit its ability to spread throughout the body.

The immune system uses all of these cells to help keep you healthy. However, in some diseases or infections, levels of immune cells can change dramatically. One such cell is often negatively affected by disease: a natural killer cell known as CD57. But what is a CD57 cell marker? And how is it related to chronic illnesses such as Lyme disease?

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When the COVID-19 pandemic began, medical researchers and scientists were put to the test when it came to finding a solution that kept the spread and the rate of serious illness down as much as possible. The first choice for doing so was developing an effective vaccine that could be given to as many people as possible in the hopes that it would prevent the long-term spread and infection rates. Now that the vaccines have been rolled out, there is a bit more breathing room to develop other forms of testing and management techniques when it comes to COVID-19.

One such testing route that has been making headlines recently is T-cell testing. T-cell testing can be used to help track and evaluate how well vaccines are working, as well as immunity rates across populations that have been most heavily affected. It could also be used to determine just how long a vaccine will be effective for. But what is T-cell testing, exactly? And how is it going to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?

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Tag: T-Cells

What Is A CD57 Cell Marker?

Why T-Cell Testing Is Necessary For Long-Term Approach To Coronavirus