At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 was thought to be a temporary disease. But more and more patients continued to have symptoms such as brain fog, digestive and vascular problems for months or even years.
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American scientists from the University of California at San Francisco have found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be stored in the blood and tissues of patients a year after the end of the acute phase of the disease, reports EurekAlert.
Scientists obtained the following data after conducting two studies:
- in the first, they studied blood samples from 171 people infected with COVID. Using an ultra-sensitive test for the coronavirus’s adhesion protein, which helps SARS-CoV-2 enter human cells, scientists found that the virus was still present in some people even 14 months after infection;
- Since the coronavirus is believed to be stored in tissue reservoirs, scientists turned to the Tissue Bank, which contains samples donated by patients. They found fragments of viral RNA up to two years after infection, although there was no evidence that the person was reinfected. The fragments were found in connective tissue where immune cells are located, suggesting that the viral fragments were causing the immune system to attack. In some samples, researchers found that the virus may be active.
These two studies provide some of the strongest evidence yet that COVID antigens may persist in some people even if we think they have a normal immune response, the scientists note.
Scientists have now begun clinical trials to determine whether antiviral drugs can clear the virus and improve the health of people with long COVID.
Source: EurekAlert
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I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.