Tamara Thomas

Urban Health Today

A direct link was found between SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and Blood group A, and the virus also preferentially infects blood group A cells, according to a study published in the journal Blood.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier in the pandemic, researchers suggested that blood type increases one&rsquo;s chance of contracting COVID. One work suggested that people with blood group A seemed more vulnerable to infection with coronavirus than those with blood group O. However, no study has identified the mechanism that explains the risk imbalance between blood groups.&nbsp;For this study, Dr. Sean R. Stowell of Harvard Medical School and colleagues carried out laboratory experiments to find an explanation of how blood type plays a role in COVID-19 risk.&nbsp;Dr. Stowell and colleagues found in the lab that each blood group had different proteins or antigens that caused it to react differently to the COVID-19 virus. According to the researchers, the receptor binding domain of SARS-COV-2 exhibited specificity for blood group A. In addition, the researchers found that each SARS-CoV-2 virus likewise displayed a preferential ability to infect blood group A-expressing cells.&ldquo;Blood group A cells were more likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 when compared with blood group O cells,&rdquo; Dr. Stowell said.&nbsp;Furthermore, the researchers found that adding a special protein (galectin) that inhibits SARS-CoV-2 from recognizing certain blood antigens blocked the virus&rsquo; preference for infecting blood group A cells but did not affect blood group O cells. In addition, when they added a galectin that didn&rsquo;t block the recognition of blood group antigens, they found no infection-inhibiting effects on either A or O cells.&nbsp;On further experimentation, the researchers found that the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 had an even stronger preference for infecting blood group A cells than the original virus.The researchers cautioned that although their findings provide a mechanism for how blood group A may directly influence the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, people with blood group O should not assume they have a free pass from the virus but rather should take precautions against SARS-CoV-2 infection.&ldquo;Blood group is one of many variables that influence one&rsquo;s likelihood of becoming infected following exposure to SARS-CoV-2,&rdquo; Dr. Stowell said. &ldquo;Regardless of their blood group, individuals should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and should continue to take other preventive measures appropriate to their risk level.&rdquo;Source: <a href="https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230627/Study-finds-link-between-blood-type-and-COVID-19-susceptibility.aspx">News Medical</a>Journal Source: <a href="https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/doi/10.1182/blood.2022018903/496471/Blood-Group-A-Enhances-SARS-CoV-2-Infection">BLOOD</a>

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"Blood group A cells were more likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 when compared with blood group O cells."

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