As cases keep rising and many lives lost to the virus, scientists are finding new researches every day. They are trying to find the proper vaccine and treatment for the coronavirus disease. Recently there are researches on the degree of infection depending on one’s blood type. There are 4 blood types. These are A, B, AB, and O. People with blood type A have increased chances of contracting coronavirus. Type O has reduced the chances of getting the disease.
Researchers Views
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital had great findings. Their study shows no proof that blood type affects whether someone gets symptoms from the infection. According to past findings, some blood groups affect susceptibility to other diseases and infection.
Why Blood type Matter
Historically, Dr. Karl, an Austrian pathologist, and immunologist discovered blood types in the 1900s. The blood type one has depends on his or her parents. Erstwhile to the great finding, blood transfusion was a delicate process with risk. Dr. James once gave blood transfusion to over 8 patients and only 50% survived.
The doctor was not aware of the aspect of compatibility. We look in the case of a given blood group like ABO. Antigens and antibodies identify the ABO blood type. Antibodies detect other or foreign antigens and command the immune system to kill them. Therefore, giving a person blood from a group not compatible with his blood is suicidal.
Rhesus status also determines the blood type. Rhesus is a protein found on the RBC. If one has, he is Rh-positive and vice versa. People who are Rh-positive can receive blood from a negative or a positive blood group. Rh- can only receive a rhesus negative RBC.
Evolutionary Puzzle
More than 15 primates possess blood types. Biologist researchers found that blood groups are very old.
Segurel says:
“A lot of primate species also have the differences of being A, B, or AB. Whether it is an ape or a monkey, it is intriguing that the differences have been found or maintained in so many various species.”
Segurel explains that the ABO blood type is lively in body tissues and organs. This is vital when our bodies face the infection with various blood types giving us protection.
She says:
“The evolutionary interest of maintaining these blood types might not be related to their function in the blood but likely to their function in respiratory or digestive issues. They are the two places where you have the most contact with viruses and bacteria, the places where you inhale the air and the digestive tissue.”
About COVID19
Recent studies have shown a connection between a blood group and the virus. European researchers found that people with blood type A had over 40% increased risk of getting infections than other human beings. Blood type O has over 60% likelihood to get infections.
Indeed, scientists have a lot to dig through to get the gold. They have to conduct more and more researches to find what exactly they are dealing with.
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