A sugar makes the difference

The Covid-19 pandemic has spurred greater interest in antibodies. These immune Y-shaped proteins help us to fight off viruses and bacteria, and antibody-based medicines can be useful in treating infections and other diseases. When it comes to the Covid-19 immune response, a mystery has been unraveled: the lack of a single sugar group in the Y bottom half skews the immune response towards an inflammatory storm. If that sounds incredible, it’s for a good reason – it is!