COVID-19 patients who experience cytokine storms may make few memory B cells

(Cell Press) The release of massive amounts of proteins called cytokines can lead to some of the most severe symptoms of COVID-19. An August 19 study in the journal Cell now suggests that high levels of some cytokines may also prevent people who are infected from developing long-term immunity as affected patients were observed to make very few of the type of B cells needed to develop a durable immune response.