A new study has provided evidence to suggest that certain blood types may be more susceptible to a COVID-19 infection than others.
Researchers have found some evidence that suggests certain blood types may be more likely to contract a COVID-19 infection.
According to a new study, the team of researchers examined a specific protein that is located on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus called the receptor-binding domain (RBD).
The researchers analyzed how SARS-CoV-2 RBD interacted with respiratory and blood cells in different blood types. The results of the study indicated that SARS-CoV-2 RBD has a strong preference for binding to blood group A found in respiratory cells.
Dr. Sean Stowell, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and author of the study, said, “It is interesting that the viral RBD only really prefers the type of blood group A antigens that are on respiratory cells, which are presumably how the virus is entering most patients and infecting them.
Blood type is a challenge because it is inherited and not something we can change. But if we can better understand how the virus interacts with blood groups in people, we may be able to find new medicines or methods of prevention.”
Stowell goes on to say that this discovery can’t fully predict how coronaviruses or COVID-19 will affect patients will certain blood types.
Here’s what Dr. Stowell said, “Our observation is not the only mechanism responsible for what we are seeing clinically, but it could explain some of the influence of blood type on COVID-19 infection.”