COVID-19, which first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019, is relentlessly sweeping across the world. The scale of the epidemic has caused chaos and led to the World Health Organisation declaring it a pandemic in early February 2020.
Understanding the virus is the preoccupation of scientists who are trying to unravel its mysteries as a first step to finding ways to stop the disease spreading, and to finding a vaccine. On a daily basis, scientists are finding out new things about SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the rapidly spreading disease COVID-19.
An area of inquiry is its relationship to other coronaviruses. For example, it’s been identified as being part of the same family of coronaviruses which caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). SARS was first identified in 2002. It caused severe respiratory disease which was fatal in approximately 10% of cases. MERS, on the other hand, originated in the Middle East and although less infectious, caused death in around 37% of cases.
Scientists investigating SARS-CoV-2 have found that the structure is very similar to the SARS-CoV. But there are also a number of marked differences. For example, one of the most startling differences of COVID-19 is its rapid spread across the world.
Closing the gap in understanding these differences and similarities is what stands between scientists and a solution to the rapidly spreading disease. One vital line of inquiry into how the body is able to fight and overcome the infection is how blood types – and their associated antibodies – might influence the immune response.
Similarities and differences
SARS-Cov-2 is round in shape and has a number of proteins called spikes on the surface. These spikes attach to the same human cell receptor (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) as the SARS-CoV. This information is important as it suggests that the virus uses the same mechanism of ensuring that the viral genes enter the host cell, replicate and infect other cells. Scientists can use this to develop drugs that inhibit the spike protein from binding and so slow the ability of the virus to replicate.
Another similarity is the structure of the spike protein which is called NSP15. Scientists from a number of universities in the US have studied the structure of this protein and found it to be 89% similar to the NSP15 protein in SARS-CoV.
Like COVID-19, SARS was highly infectious. But there was one quirk: not everyone who was exposed to individuals who were already infected developed the disease.
One area of research was whether blood types and naturally occurring antibodies could influence the spread or severity of the infection.
The distribution of the four main blood groups (A, B, AB, and O) varies across population groups and geographical regions due to natural selection, the environment, and disease. Up until recently, blood groups were commonly known for their role in blood transfusion. If patients received incompatible blood, powerful naturally-occurring anti-A or anti-B antibodies could cause a blood transfusion reaction.
But research has shown that blood types could also play a role in infection and how the body’s immune system responds. One theory is that blood group antigens can act as binding receptors which will allow viruses or bacteria to attach and enter the body’s cells.
An example of this is the norovirus which causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. This virus is able to bind to ABO antigens on mucosal surfaces of the gut, and once this happens, it is able to gain entry into the host cell and then replicate. On the other hand, anti-A and anti-B antibodies may be part of the body’s natural defense and could limit or even prevent infection.
What about coronaviruses?
Doctors at a Hong Kong hospital studied this phenomenon and reported that individuals who were blood group O appeared to be less susceptible to SARS-CoV than those who were group A, B or AB. Researchers showed that the virus could express antigens on its surface similar to those found in the ABH blood group. They also reported that naturally occurring anti-A antibodies were able to inhibit or even block the binding of the virus to the host cell.
This led to the theory that group O individuals, which have both anti-A and anti-B antibodies, may have some protection against infection.
The fact that blood types and their associated antibodies influence the immune response is one of the lines of inquiry into how the body is able to fight and overcome the infection.
How this occurs in COVID-19 still requires more study to build on the work already being done.
Another discovery is that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is unique and is 10-20 times more likely to attach to human cells. This could explain the increased and more rapid spread across populations.
The structure of these unique spike proteins matter enormously because they will form the basis for the development of a vaccine.
The ABO blood group has evolved in response to disease over thousands of years. The antigens and antibodies which form part of this system interact with cells of the immune system and are able to influence the way they react. As we get to know more about SARS-CoV-2 the role of blood types, if any, may become clearer.
Hello,
I’d like to give you money via paypal for you to post a link to my site. Would you be interested in something like that?
Stephen
Yes, we can talk more via email at organizationlifesavers@gmail.com
504959 902123Some genuinely fantastic info , Gladiola I detected this. 978090
327268 45301Truly instructive and superb structure of articles, now thats user friendly (:. 707052
289790 335163Just a smiling visitant here to share the really like (:, btw outstanding style . 827140
411297 698215I discovered your blog internet site internet website on the internet and appearance some of your early posts. Continue to maintain inside the wonderful operate. I just now additional increase your Rss to my MSN News Reader. Seeking toward reading far much more from you obtaining out at a later date! 38159
998933 508972I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Maintain up the superb works guys Ive incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I believe itll improve the value of my web site . 289767
42458 327618I adore your wordpress design, exactly where did you download it from? 273314
923958 353981Some truly wonderful content material on this web internet site , thankyou for contribution. 578483
567949 941692There is visibly a bunch to know about this. I believe you made various great points in capabilities also. 108545
895261 982842Wow, incredible weblog structure! How long have you been running a blog for? you produced running a weblog look straightforward. The complete appear of your internet site is magnificent, neatly as the content material material! 821726
822524 625221Das beste Webdesign Berlin erhalten Sie bei uns, genauso wie professionelles Webdesign. Denn wir sind die Webdesign Agentur mit pfiff. 952268
930012 216343Im agitated all these article directories. It certain would be nice to have every write-up directory that instantly accepts articles. 411594
168061 549443This internet site can be a walk-through its the details you wanted concerning this and didnt know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you will undoubtedly discover it. 782947
489472 522788Id require to verify with you here. Which is not one thing I generally do! I take pleasure in reading a submit that will make individuals think. Moreover, thanks for permitting me to remark! 462281
989627 932868Really informative and fantastic bodily structure of content material , now thats user friendly (:. 10323
283243 47747Hey! Do you use Twitter? Id like to follow you if that would be ok. Im definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates. 36731
648091 491343This internet site can be a walk-by way of for all of the data you needed about this and didnt know who to ask. Glimpse here, and also you will surely uncover it. 912846
752162 746974Our own chaga mushroom comes with a schokohutige, consistent, charcoal-like arrival, a whole lot of dissimilar towards the style of the standard mushroom. Chaga Tincture 995797
675736 385397Have read a couple of with the articles on your internet site now, and I actually like your style of blogging. I added it to my favorites blog website list and will probably be checking back soon. 285983
618771 130382I enjoyed reading your pleasant web site. I see you offer priceless information. stumbled into this site by chance but Im confident glad I clicked on that link. You definitely answered all the questions Ive been dying to answer for some time now. Will undoubtedly come back for much more of this. 960873
343331 485814If you happen to significant fortunate individuals forms, referring by natural means, moreover you catch the attention of some sort of envy in consideration of those types the other campers surrounding you which have tough times about this topic. awnings 591084
120827 24483 You created some decent points there. I looked on the internet for the issue and found most individuals will go along with with your website. 101668
48171 800390I saw two other comparable posts although yours was the most beneficial so a great deal 15885
898477 845275Hi. Thank you for creating this website . I m working on betting online niche and have discovered this website utilizing search on bing . Will be positive to appear much more of your content material . Gracias , see ya. :S 688594
721071 488148Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So nice to discover somebody with some original thoughts on this topic. realy thank you for starting this up. this web site is something that is needed on the web, someone with a bit originality. beneficial job for bringing something new to the internet! 17371
49991 737238You ought to get involved in a contest personally of the finest blogs on-line. I will recommend this page! 311042
800992 984274Hi! I discovered your website accidentally today, but am truly pleased that we did! Its not only entertaining, but in addition straightforward to make use of in contrast to lots that Ive viewed! 24063