Summary of 코로나 확진자와 함께 있어도 코로나에 걸리지 않는 이유(강남세브란스병원 한상훈 교수 & 서울내과 한경일 원장)

00:00:00 - 00:10:00

The coronavirus is an invisible threat to the health and well-being of people worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world to a standstill, affecting economies and societies across the globe. The spread of the virus is unexpected and difficult to control. However, the medical community is continuously working to understand the virus's behavior and develop effective prevention strategies. There have been some instances where individuals who have been in close contact with COVID-19 patients have not become infected themselves. This phenomenon is not unique to COVID-19, as similar observations have been made with other infections. Factors such as the individual's immune response, the amount of exposure to the virus or bacteria, and prior infection can play a role in determining whether someone gets infected. There are rare cases where individuals who have close contact with infected individuals do not get infected despite not getting vaccinated. There are also three factors that may explain why some individuals do not contract COVID-19 even when exposed to infected individuals. These include certain genetic factors, the use of preventive measures, and the introduction of non-specific bacteria to trigger a stronger immune response against future viral infections.

• 00:00:00 In this section, the doctors explain that there are people who can be in close contact with a COVID-19 patient but not become infected themselves. This phenomenon is not unique to COVID-19, as similar observations have been made with other infections. Factors such as the individual's immune response and the amount of exposure to the virus or bacteria can play a role in determining whether or not someone gets infected. Additionally, some individuals may have previously been infected without showing symptoms and developed immunity, while others may simply be lucky and avoid exposure. The doctors also mention that there are rare cases where individuals who have close contact with infected individuals do not get infected themselves. They offer four possible explanations for this: (1) not getting exposed to the virus, (2) having had prior asymptomatic infection and developing immunity, (3) having certain immune cells that provide resistance to the virus, and (4) genetic factors that make individuals less susceptible to infection. They highlight that asymptomatic infections are quite common and that young people are more likely to experience them, based on data from studies.
• 00:05:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the higher prevalence of asymptomatic infections and milder symptoms in young adults. They mention that in Korea, the Omicron variant has an asymptomatic rate of around 27-30%, although this may be influenced by increased testing. Additionally, they discuss a study from Imperial College London that found individuals who were exposed to COVID-19 but did not contract the virus had a specific immune response in their T-cells. This suggests that the spike protein, which is the primary focus of current vaccines, may not be the only target for effective prevention. The speaker proposes that considering other proteins, like the nucleocapsid protein, in vaccine development could provide sufficient protection. They also mention that early research indicates that some common human coronaviruses may provide cross-protection against COVID-19. Overall, these findings suggest the importance of considering different aspects of the virus and immune response in developing effective prevention strategies.
• 00:10:00 In this section, the speaker discusses three factors that may explain why some individuals do not contract COVID-19 even when exposed to infected individuals. Firstly, they mention the possibility of certain genetic factors that could provide resistance or vulnerability to the virus. Approximately 20 genes are currently known to play a role in this. Secondly, they suggest that further research could potentially allow for the prediction of susceptibility to the virus based on specific genetic markers. However, this would require significant effort. Lastly, they mention the use of preventive measures such as sprays or coatings that could enhance resistance to the virus. They also propose the idea of introducing non-specific bacteria to trigger a stronger immune response against future viral infections. Overall, the speaker expresses hope for the development of preventive interventions in the future.