Study summary
Our bodies are protected by an army of immune cells that fight off threats like germs, viruses, and even cancer. Two of the most important types are called T cells and B cells. Each of these cells has a tiny "sensor" on its surface that helps it spot things that don't belong in the body, like a virus. Together, all the sensors across a person's T and B cells make up what scientists call the "immune receptor repertoire."
No two people have exactly the same set of immune sensors. These differences may help explain why some people fight off infections like COVID-19 easily while others get very sick. In this study, we want to learn why people have such different sets of immune sensors. We will look at whether a person's age, sex, and the genes they were born with change the kinds of sensors their immune cells make. To do this, we will study information already collected from thousands of people who kindly agreed to take part in research through the NIHR BioResource.
We will use computer programs to compare the immune sensors between people and look for patterns. By learning what shapes a person's immune defences, we hope to help doctors and scientists build better vaccines and treatments in the future, and one day give patients better answers about their health.