People with blood type A are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection: Study

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, preferentially infects blood group A cells, a study suggests, suggesting a direct correlation between this blood group and higher rates of infection with the virus. Previous studies have shown that people with blood group A appear to be more susceptible to infection with the novel coronavirus, while people with blood group O seem to be somewhat less susceptible.

However, until now, no study had identified a “smoking gun”—a mechanism that could explain this apparent risk imbalance. “We show that the part of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that enables the virus to invade cells exhibits affinity for blood group A cells, and that in turn enables the virus to infect blood group A cells.” Also shows preferential ability.” Harvard Medical School’s Sean R. Stowell said.

In the lab, Dr. Stowell and his colleagues found that the incorporation of a protein that prevents SARS-CoV-2 from recognizing certain blood group antigens (substances that cause an immune response in the body) increased blood group A cells. Blocked the priority of the virus to infect. , But it had no effect on blood type O cells, they explained in the study published in the journal Blood.

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Adding a different protein did not hinder the recognition of blood group antigens, had no infection-inhibiting effect on A or O cells. “Blood group A cells were more likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 than blood group O cells,” Dr Stowell said. Further experiments showed that the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 had a higher preference for infecting blood group A cells than the original virus.

While the findings provide a mechanism for how blood group A may directly affect the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, Dr. Stowell cautioned that the findings do not mean that people with blood group O are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2. – There is no need to take precautions against. 2 transition.

“In groups of several thousand people, some studies suggest that people with blood group A may be 20 percent more likely to become infected after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 than people with blood group O .. But people with blood group O can still get infected with the virus and transmit it to others,” he said.

“In addition, factors such as age and chronic conditions such as heart disease appear to exceed blood type in determining individuals’ risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.” “Blood group is one of several factors that affect someone’s likelihood of becoming infected after exposure to SARS-CoV-2,” he said.

“Regardless of their blood group, individuals should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and continue to take other preventive measures as appropriate for their risk level.” Future studies will be needed to uncover the features of the virus that are ultimately responsible for the inclusion of blood group A, as well as the extent to which this preference is preserved as new SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge.