Should the NHS have a ‘library’, Lynn News letters

Ventilators do not specifically treat viral pneumonia but they support the patient while specific antibodies and immune T lymphocytes kill the virus.

We know that through immunoglobulin gene rearrangement every possible antibody and T cell receptor is produced and when an infection occurs the correct antibody and T cell is selected through the antigen presentation mechanism.

As a society therefore it would surely be logical to develop a library of all possible antibodies and antigens. When a pandemic strikes the correct antigen and antibody could then be selected.

The antibody could be manufactured as a monoclonal for intravenous administration as passive immunity while the antigen could be manufactured to produce the vaccine.

Peter Coates,

Stanhoe