Your task is to predict the verdict of a claim based on the provided question-answer pair evidence. The possible labels are: 'Supported', 'Refuted', 'Not Enough Evidence', 'Conflicting Evidence/Cherrypicking'. Justify your answer using the provided evidence and select the correct label.

Claim: T cells may play a role in the body’s immune response against the virus SARS-CoV-2

Q1: What are T cells role in clearing viral infections?
A1: T cells recognize and kill infected cells. The cells of the adaptive immune system are lymphocytes – B cells and T cells. A key feature of the adaptive immune system is memory. Repeat infections by the same virus are met immediately with a strong and specific response that usually effectively stops the infection with less reliance on the innate system. When we say we are immune to infection with a virus, we are talking about immune memory. Vaccines protect us against infection because of immune memory. The first adaptive response against a virus – called the primary response – often takes days to mature. In contrast, a memory response develops within hours of infection. Memory is maintained by a subset of B and T lymphocytes called memory cells which survive for years in the body. Memory cells remain ready to respond rapidly and efficiently to a subsequent encounter with a pathogen. This so-called secondary response is often stronger than the primary response to infection. Consequently, childhood infections protect adults, and immunity conferred by vaccination can last for years.

Q2: What does the National Geographic article say that specifically relates to the role of T cells for the SARS-CoV-2 virus?
A2: The article references findings by Aleman, a researcher and physician at the Karolinska University in sweden.
Killer T cells, which tell virus-infected human cells to destroy themselves to keep the virus from spreading - In a subset of those who tested positive for COVID-19, Aleman found T cells but no antibodies. Aleman says, one thing is becoming clear: antibodies might not be telling the whole story when it comes to COVID-19 immunity. “We shouldn’t just look blindly at antibody tests." The article also states, Aleman and other virologists and immunologists when turning their attention to COVID-19, they began to study how immunity developed in people who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, as well as their close contacts, some of whom were presumably exposed to the virus, even if they didn’t get sick. As expected, hospitalized individuals developed strong antibody and T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2. But two-thirds of the close contacts who were asymptomatic showed a subsequent T cell response, even though tests didn’t detect any antibodies - Study results, released June 29 without peer review via the medical pre-print service medRxiv, didn’t reveal whether these individuals never developed antibodies or whether they rapidly declined to undetectable levels. Regardless, the report immediately raised concerns about a vaccine, since stimulating antibody production is a key strategy by which immunizations protect against disease.

The article also cites recently reported work by immunologist Antonio Bertoletti from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore - Patients infected with the original SARS virus still possessed memory T cells that responded to the virus’ proteins 17 years later. These same memory T cells also reacted to SARS-CoV-2. It’s something Bertoletti says bodes well for COVID-19.

Q3: What reaction did the claim recieve from the scientific community?
A3: One study by immunologist Antonio Bertoletti as reference in the National Geographic article - 'SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell immunity in cases of COVID-19 and SARS, and uninfected controls' is cited on 'Nature' 1034 times.
user
justification: This claim is supported. According to the QA pairs, T cells have the ability to aid memory cells when an pathogen enters the body that needs to be destroyed. The more times that pathogen tries to affect the immune system, the memory cells (aided by T cells) respond faster and stronger to kill off the infection. Therefore, T cells do play a role in the body's immune system against COVID-19 as if a person were to catch COVID-19 twice, the T cells help weaken the infection. This claim is supported. 

verdict: 'Supported'
assistant