Survivor Plasma Studied to Possibly Prevent Coronavirus Infection
2020-06-17
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1Researchers are launching a study to see whether blood plasma from coronavirus survivors can block infection in others.
2The study will involve people in groups at high risk of getting infected.
3This could include health workers, husbands or wives of sick individuals and people who live in nursing homes.
4The new research will build on recent studies that looked into whether blood plasma from recovered coronavirus patients could be an effective treatment for infected individuals.
5Plasma is the yellowish, liquid part of blood.
6It contains proteins called antibodies that target infections entering the body.
7Blood plasma from former patients may help infected individuals defeat COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
8Many survivors of COVID-19 have donated their blood plasma in hopes of helping sick patients recover.
9Thousands of coronavirus patients in hospitals around the world have been treated with this kind of plasma, including more than 20,000 in the United States.
10So far, there is little evidence to demonstrate that blood plasma is helping coronavirus patients recover.
11One recent study from China had unclear results.
12 Another from New York showed only small benefits.
13Dr. Shmuel Shoham of America's Johns Hopkins University told The Associated Press that the studies do provide some "glimmers of hope."
14Shoham will lead the new study on whether the plasma can prevent infections entirely.
15Researchers plan to use 150 volunteers for the study.
16Some of the test subjects will receive plasma from COVID-19 survivors that contains coronavirus-fighting antibodies.
17Others will receive a kind of plasma used daily in hospitals.
18Scientists will examine whether there are differences in who gets sick.
19If the survivor plasma works, it could play a major part in reducing the number of coronavirus infections until a vaccine is approved.
20The researchers say the survivor plasma could be given to high-risk individuals to temporarily strengthen the immune system.
21"They're a paramedic, they're a police officer, they're a poultry industry worker, they're a submarine naval officer," Shoham said.
22"Can we blanket protect them?"
23As more people survive COVID-19, there are increasing calls for them to donate plasma to build up the nation's supply, in case the treatments prove to be effective.
24Donated blood plasma is also sometimes combined with products designed to make the plasma stronger.
25The Spanish chemical company Grifols is expected to create a version of donor plasma that is filled with a large amount of antibodies.
26Using blood plasma directly from recovered patients seems to be safe, Dr. Michael Joyner of the Mayo Clinic reported last month.
27His team followed the first 5,000 people to receive plasma in a program run by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
28The program, which helps hospitals carry out the experimental treatment, found few serious side effects in patients.
29I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Researchers are launching a study to see whether blood plasma from coronavirus survivors can block infection in others. 2The study will involve people in groups at high risk of getting infected. This could include health workers, husbands or wives of sick individuals and people who live in nursing homes. 3The new research will build on recent studies that looked into whether blood plasma from recovered coronavirus patients could be an effective treatment for infected individuals. 4Plasma is the yellowish, liquid part of blood. It contains proteins called antibodies that target infections entering the body. Blood plasma from former patients may help infected individuals defeat COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. 5Many survivors of COVID-19 have donated their blood plasma in hopes of helping sick patients recover. 6Thousands of coronavirus patients in hospitals around the world have been treated with this kind of plasma, including more than 20,000 in the United States. 7So far, there is little evidence to demonstrate that blood plasma is helping coronavirus patients recover. One recent study from China had unclear results. Another from New York showed only small benefits. 8Dr. Shmuel Shoham of America's Johns Hopkins University told The Associated Press that the studies do provide some "glimmers of hope." Shoham will lead the new study on whether the plasma can prevent infections entirely. 9Researchers plan to use 150 volunteers for the study. Some of the test subjects will receive plasma from COVID-19 survivors that contains coronavirus-fighting antibodies. Others will receive a kind of plasma used daily in hospitals. Scientists will examine whether there are differences in who gets sick. 10If the survivor plasma works, it could play a major part in reducing the number of coronavirus infections until a vaccine is approved. The researchers say the survivor plasma could be given to high-risk individuals to temporarily strengthen the immune system. 11"They're a paramedic, they're a police officer, they're a poultry industry worker, they're a submarine naval officer," Shoham said. "Can we blanket protect them?" 12As more people survive COVID-19, there are increasing calls for them to donate plasma to build up the nation's supply, in case the treatments prove to be effective. 13Donated blood plasma is also sometimes combined with products designed to make the plasma stronger. The Spanish chemical company Grifols is expected to create a version of donor plasma that is filled with a large amount of antibodies. 14Using blood plasma directly from recovered patients seems to be safe, Dr. Michael Joyner of the Mayo Clinic reported last month. His team followed the first 5,000 people to receive plasma in a program run by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 15The program, which helps hospitals carry out the experimental treatment, found few serious side effects in patients. 16I'm Bryan Lynn. 17The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 18We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 19________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21nursing home - n. a place where people who are old or who are unable to take care of themselves can live and be taken care of 22benefit - n. a good or helpful result or effect 23glimmers of hope - phr. a belief that there is a slight chance that something positive will happen 24entirely - adj. completely 25immune system - n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections 26poultry - n. domesticated birds kept for meat 27blanket - n. the whole amount 28side effect - n. a secondary and usually negative effect of something (such as a drug)