Immune Markers for COVID Severity

  With the myriad array of immune battlefield sights and sounds occurring in COVID-19 infections, one could easily get lost in trying to understand the tide of the battle. Understanding the tide and predicting its movement is critical in helping those heading towards the worst cases of this virus.  Researchers are searching for clues to know when someone is heading over the critical care cliff and it looks like this group have some promising ideas.

            It appears that our antibody arm of the immune system can respond to either the N protein or the S protein.  Those who produce more antibodies against the N protein do not fare as favorably.  Those who produce more antibodies against the S protein tend to be less critically ill.

            By measuring and comparing IgM and IgA responses to S and N proteins in infected patients, they were able to correctly distinguish after the fact whether a patient had more severe illness and died versus those who survived their milder infection.  

As we move forward with our Immune Prepper Course One, we will keep our eyes further research to see if we predict who might benefit from earlier and more aggressive therapy.  If we can identify these individuals beyond just knowing their risk factors, we might see more success using natural and pharmaceutical interventions. 

Journal reference:

Atyeo,C., et al. (2020) Distinct early serological signatures track with SARS-CoV-2 survival. Immunity. doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2020.07.020.

Posting site:

News Medical.  Edited by Emily Henderson, B.Sc. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200807/Study-identifies-five-immune-response-markers-that-may-predict-COVID-19-patient-outcomes.aspx . Released August 7, 2020.  Accessed August 9, 2020