Vulnerabilities to Coronavirus: Does Your Blood Type Matter?
Since the Covid-19 pandemic became known to everyone, researchers have been working hard to learn about the disease better. It includes diving deep into the SARS-CoV2 virus, dissecting and analysing it to understand how this particular coronavirus affects human cells, makes them sick, and so on. Several such studies have brought forward the possibilities of specific blood types playing different roles in coronavirus infection.
A new study has found some beneficial information that put lights on how coronavirus utilizes different blood antigens to affect human cells. It also found out the particular blood type more vulnerable to be affected by SARS-CoV2 novel coronavirus. We discuss those findings in detail below.
Blood Type A is More Vulnerable to Coronavirus
At first, we should point out the disclaimer that the research findings observed by Dr Sean R Stowell are not the only mechanisms responsible for all the clinical conditions SARS-CoV2 causes among humans. However, the research did find the blood type A’s affinity towards the coronavirus.
In an in vitro experiment, researchers observed and analysed how the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV2 interacted with the antigens of different blood types. It has found the coronavirus to possess a strong preference for the antigens found in blood type A, especially in the blood found in the respiratory cells in the lungs. Anyhow, it didn’t show any conclusive preference for the antigens found in the same blood type in other places.
What Do You Mean by Antigens?
In immunology, an antigen is a molecule or molecular substance that is capable of stimulating an immune response. It usually causes our immune system to create antibodies against it.
Two antigens determine a person’s blood type - A and B. The name of the blood types A and B derive from its antigen, while the blood type O doesn’t have either of them. The blood type AB on the other hand has both the antigens. Thus, it’s antigen A which is more friendly toward the coronavirus.
