A study found that blood group A cells have a higher risk of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19. The study found that the spike protein in the virus has an affinity for blood group A cells, and the virus prefers to infect them.
A recent study found that blood group A cells are more likely to contract the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which produces COVID-19. Blood group O was shown to be less sensitive to the novel coronavirus than blood group A. No study has uncovered the “smoking gun” that might explain this risk disparity.
Sean R. Stowell of Harvard Medical School stated, “We demonstrate that the critical component of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that is essential for the virus to invade cells displays an affinity for blood group A cells, and the virus in turn also shows a preferential ability to infect blood group A cells.”
In the lab, Dr. Stowell and colleagues found that a protein that stopped SARS-CoV-2 from detecting certain blood type antigens—substances that activate an immune response—prevented the virus from targeting blood group A cells. He reported in Blood that the study did not affect blood type O cells.
A protein that did not interfere with blood type antigen identification did not hinder infection on A or O cells.
Dr. Stowell found that blood group A cells were more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 than O cells. Research showed that the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 favoured blood type A cells more than the original virus.
The findings imply that blood group A may directly raise the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but Dr. Stowell cautioned that they do not mean those with blood group O do not need to prevent infection.
Some research suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is 20% more likely to infect blood group A persons than blood group O individuals. He noted that blood type O persons might contract and spread the virus.
Age and chronic conditions like heart disease have a greater influence on SARS-CoV-2 severity than blood type. He says blood type is one of several variables affecting SARS-CoV-2 infection following contact.
Dr. Stowell said, “Individuals should continue to take other preventive measures appropriate to their risk level and should be fully immunized against Covid-19 regardless of their blood group.” Future study will examine the virus’s features that engage blood group A and whether new SARS-CoV-2 variants maintain this affinity.
A recent study found that blood group A cells have a higher risk of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, than other blood types. The study found that the critical component of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is essential for the virus to invade cells, displays an affinity for blood group A cells.
The virus’s preference for blood group A cells was blocked by a protein that prevented SARS-CoV-2 from recognizing specific blood type antigens. The study had no impact on blood type O cells. However, blood group A cells were more likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 than blood group O cells.
Variables like age and chronic illnesses have a bigger impact on an individual’s likelihood of developing a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection than blood type. Individuals should continue taking preventive measures appropriate to their risk level and be fully immunized against Covid-19.
