Scientists begin study on blood type and severity of COVID-19 infection

According to research, people with blood type A have a higher positive rate for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, so scientists believe it is necessary to investigate this blood group.

Since the emergence of the new coronavirus, which has severely infected and killed many people, scientists have been working hard to study and find blood types Whether the answer to the question is related to severity.

New findings from researchers at King’s College London are thought to offer potential for treating and preventing the most severe cases of COVID-19 new method.

In search of an answer to this question, researchers at King’s College London analysed more than 3,000 proteins to determine if they are associated with the risk of severe COVID-19 disease. This is the first time such a large amount of protein has been examined for a link to COVID-19.

To date, researchers have identified eight proteins that may protect against late-stage COVID-19 and six that may increase the risk of severe COVID-19.

[ABO – one of the proteins that increases the risk of severe progression, also determines a person’s blood type]

Scientists have used pure genetics to study a large number of proteins in the blood and determined that some of them are involved in risk of serious COVID-19 infection.

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In addition, the scientists identified eight proteins associated with an increased risk of hospitalization, ventilator need, or death, and six proteins that increased those risks. The scientists even distinguished the proteins associated with hospitalization from those associated with patients requiring ventilators.

As a result, scientists concluded that the ABO enzyme that determines blood grouping is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and ventilator use. This reinforces previous findings of a link between blood type and higher risk of death.

【People with blood type A have a higher positive rate for SARS-CoV-2 virus】

So scientists think it is necessary to blood type investigation. Study co-author Professor Gerome Breen, professor of genetics at King’s College London, said the study provided a shortlist for the next phase of research.

Specifically, out of thousands of proteins in the blood, the researchers narrowed it down to about 14 proteins associated with the risk of severe COVID-19 infection and outlined important direction for further research. Going further, to better understand the mechanisms of this disease, the ultimate goal is to develop new treatments and preventive measures.

In addition, the researchers identified three “binding” molecules that mediate interactions between immune cells and blood vessels that are associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization. This is consistent with previous research that late-stage COVID-19 is a disease involving the lining of blood vessels.