Me: Are you positive it’s going to be bad? Doctor: A+
You have COVID-19, nothing happens. Or you get COVID-19 and almost die. Now you’re left with severely damaged lungs and other disastrous disorders. Or worst, you get COVID-19 and then die — now you’re really dead.
COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it’s kind of like the SARS virus from 2003, only deadlier. Around 80% of the population that gets infected with COVID-19 will be asymptomatic. Some studies point to these people as being very little in the sense of contagious, however other studies are mixed.
Here’s what we know so far since the beginnings of the US pandemic on March 16, 2020:
· Men are affected more than women.
· The majority of people who get COVID-19 have some sort of cardiovascular issue, such as hypertension or heart disease.
· Smoking increases (doubles) your risk of COVID-19 (no shit).
· And now blood type, which was somewhat evident back in March/April from a World Health Organization (WHO) study in China.
- This blood type thing just got a little more elucidated because now there’s more evidence coming out (from Europe, and next the US and Canada) that may be explain how blood type can increase one’s risk of COVID-19.
Enter Genomics:
According to Dr. Francis Collins, who says according to the NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine), who said according to an experiment that a scientist ran, they found evidence for two stretches of DNA that are may be partially responsible for some of the severe effects of COVID-19.
· One stretch determines someone’s blood type
- Another stretch is important in your immune system
People w/ type O blood are at a 50% reduced risk for deadly COVID-19 infection. That’s like tossing a quarter and it landing on either heads or tails! It pays to be naturally altruistic I guess. Most people who have heritage in the Americas are type O blood, whereas Europeans (over 40%) have A+ blood. People with blood type A seem to be at a 50% higher risk for needing oxygen compared to the other blood-types. Those with type O are at a reduced risk. increase from dying of severe COVID-19 progression.
The main researchers who led this study were Andre Franke, a German scientist, and Tom Karlsen, a Norwegian scientist. Where were our scientists? Probably not working because of how poorly we reacted to the COVID-19 situation over here in the US. That’s right my fellow Americans!
The study had 1980 people who all underwent severe COVID-19 treatment and eventually entered respiratory failure at 7 different hospitals in Italy and Spain.
These mutations occur at chromosome 3 (p3) and covers a cluster of 6 genes. One of these clusters contains a region that interacts with angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), an enzyme that can attach itself to cell membranes of the arteries, heart, intestines, kidneys, and lungs.
It’s this attachment that SARS-CoV-2 uses/exploits to attach to lung cells and infect them, causing COVID-19 infections. That’s not even the worst part. The worst part is how the immune system actually handles the threat — sometimes completely destroying your body with massive organ failure.
Another cluster in this region encodes chemokine receptors. These receptors are found on cell surfaces and interact with molecules known as cytokines. An immunomodulating agent-peptide that plays an important role in the immune system and inflammation response.
Chromosome 9 (p9) is also another cluster — it directly determines blood type (A,B, AB, or O for humans, remember that each of these types can be +/-, meaning either + or — antigens (a molecule attached on the surface of a cell that can stimulate the immune system). Another type of antigen found is Rh — these antigens can cause pregnancy complications if the mother is Rh-negative and she gives birth to a Rh-positive child). The same cluster on p9 also contains a genetic variant (SNP) for interleukin-6, a molecule that acts as both a pro-inflammatory chemokine and anti-inflammatory myokine.
Remember, just because a study found something doesn’t mean you should believe it fully. That’s right, Elon Musk. You heard me.
Elon Musk, “Dr.” Oz, and President Trump repeatedly misinformed the public on the safety and efficacy of hydroxychloroquine. Of course when I Tweeted that it could serious side effects, no one even saw my Tweet -__-
Science requires multiple studies that repeatedly show a hypothesis to be infallible before it is accepted as a scientific or medical fact. This blood type study that took place in Spain/Italy took 2 months in very difficult clinical conditions. There’s another studying happening in the US/Canada to observe the same effect in around 5000 patients.
