Abstract

DE LEON DELGADO, Joel et al. SARS-CoV-2 and the immune system: a battle of titans. Horiz. Med. [online]. 2020, vol.20, n.2, e1209. ISSN 1727-558X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.24265/horizmed.2020.v20n2.12.

Humankind is currently facing a challenge that distinguishes no borders, ideologies, socioeconomic systems, ethnic groups, religions or cultures. It is a war that unites us as a biological species, in which the main weapons come from research aimed at improving health systems. In this war, governments and international health organizations define the strategy; and health systems and law enforcement agencies, together with citizens' support, carry out actions and fight the battles. However, the most important battle is fought inside each of us. Just like Perseus fought against Hades in a battle of titans to prevent the Earth from turning into hell, the immune system activates a powerful machinery in which molecules and cells of the innate and acquired immune system jointly act to defeat SARS-Cov-2: a machinery that follows a script written by evolution, and that will leave in our immune system a memory that will strengthen us as a species to face future Hades. This work summarizes valuable information published in recent months regarding the interaction between SARS-Cov-2 and the immune system. It also includes aspects related to the detection of the immune response as a tool for the diagnosis of this infection, as well as the manipulation of the immune system to prevent or treat the disease.

Keywords : Coronavirus infections; Immune system; Diagnosis; Immunotherapy.

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