Aggregate gross loans in GCC highest in 13 quarters
finance2 hours ago
A protein that may critically contribute to severe forms of Covid-19 has recently been identified by the University of Kent’s School of Biosciences and the Institute of Medical Virology at Goethe-University.
The study titled ‘A potential role of the CD47-SIRPalpha axis in Covid-19 pathogenesis’ has been published by the scientific journal Current Issues in Molecular Biology.
SARS-CoV-2 is the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. While many individuals develop only mild or no symptoms upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, others develop severe, life-threatening diseases.
Researchers have found that the infection of cells with SARS-CoV-2 results in increased levels of a protein called CD47 on the cell surface.
CD47 is a so-called “do not eat me” signal to the immune system’s defences that protect cells from being destroyed. Virus-induced CD47 on the surface of infected cells is likely to protect them from immune system recognition, enabling the production of larger amounts of virus, resulting in more severe disease.
ALSO READ:
Well-known risk factors for severe Covid-19 such as older age and diabetes are associated with higher CD47 levels. High CD47 levels also contribute to high blood pressure, which is a large risk factor for Covid-19 complications such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
The data suggest that age and virus-induced high CD47 levels contribute to severe Covid-19 by preventing an effective immune response and increasing disease-associated tissue and organ damage.
Since therapeutics targeting CD47 are in development, this discovery may result in improved Covid-19 therapies.
Professor Martin Michaelis, University of Kent, said, “This is exciting. We may have identified a major factor associated with severe Covid-19. This is a huge step in combatting the disease and we can now look forward to further progress in the design of therapeutics.”
Professor Jindrich Cinatl, Goethe-University Frankfurt, said, “These additional insights into the disease processes underlying Covid-19 may help us to design better therapies, as well as an appreciation for the importance of the breadth of research being conducted. Through this avenue, we have achieved a major breakthrough and exemplified that the fight against the disease continues.”
Aggregate gross loans in GCC highest in 13 quarters
finance2 hours ago
This initiative contributes to enhancing the values of unity and solidarity among members of society, creating a more cohesive and stable community
uae2 hours ago
Zimbabwe won by 80 runs on the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern system
cricket3 hours ago
Street battles break out when a team of surveyors enters the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal on orders from a local court
asia3 hours ago
Rabies virus causes acute encephalitis in all warm-blooded hosts, and the outcome of infection is nearly always fatal
uae3 hours ago
Opener Jaiswal earned the title of heir-apparent to Kohli as his side's batting figurehead by helping set the mammoth target score of 534
sports3 hours ago
Rutherford struck 10 sixes and seven fours as he scored an unbeaten 103 runs in 40 balls
cricket3 hours ago
Abu Dhabi authorities urged the public not to publish any recordings captured by surveillance systems on social media platforms
uae3 hours ago