Scientists have identified a linkage between covid and blood type

In a publication in the American Society of Hematology, Blood Advances, it is said that medical scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston have conducted research on the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 and its interaction with red blood cells. They determined the degree of binding of the RBD receptor-binding domain on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 to erythrocytes. The virus uses the RBD protein complex to attach to host cells, and the ease of infection depends on the strength of its binding.

The authors of the experiment estimated the amount of RBD antigens on respiratory cells (these are epithelial cells that line the walls of the pulmonary alveoli, and it is through them that gas exchange is carried out) and red blood cells in people with blood groups I, II and III. As it turned out, RBD preferentially binds to respiratory cells in blood group II and does not bind to blood group II erythrocytes or to respiratory cells and red blood cells of other groups.

"Interestingly, the viral RBD actually prefers the blood group II antigens that are found on the respiratory cells. Blood type is a problem because it is inherited and we cannot change it. But if we better understand how the virus interacts with different blood types in humans, we may be able to find new drugs or methods of prevention", - said the study's lead author, Dr. Sean Stowell.

During the second phase of the experiment, the scientists tested the existence of such binding preferences for the RBD of the SARS-CoV virus, which caused the SARS outbreak between 2002-2003. The compositions of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV differ from each other, but, nevertheless, scientists have identified the same pattern, in which binding preferentially occurs with blood group II antibodies on respiratory cells.

However, the researchers point out that the results of the experiment cannot unambiguously predict the course of coronavirus in patients with different blood types, since the severity of the disease is associated with many factors, however, the work explains some of the influence of the blood type on COVID-19 infection.

According to the authors, further observations should better reveal the relationship between blood groups and susceptibility to coronavirus, as well as other symptoms of the disease.

Earlier, we recall, the European Medical Center found out that carriers of the II blood group more often died from coronavirus infection.

The researchers also found that people with blood group I are less likely to get coronavirus. The hardest to cope with the coronavirus is patients who are carriers of the IV blood group, the scientists pointed out.