Scientists Highlight the Link Between the Immune System and Deadliness of COVID-19

(Newswire.net — December 15, 2021) Winnetka, IL — Health authorities have been stressing the relevance of maintaining a strong immunity, especially in these times of global health crisis. 

Scientists at the Earlham Institute (EI) and the Quadram Institute look into how the immune system responds to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other similar respiratory viruses. Particularly, they aim to identify unique features in severely ill COVID-19 patients.

Members of the Korcsmaros Group working alongside the clinical virologist Claire Shannon-Lowe at the University of Birmingham carried out this research. They focused on how SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses are triggering the so-called ‘cytokine storm’, which is a hyper-activation of our own immune system.

It is important to keep in mind it is one of the main reasons for the high death rate in a subgroup of COVID-19 patients.

According to researchers, SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses, can catalyze an overactive immune response. They further warn that this often results in a life-threatening cycle, known as a cytokine storm. 

Scientists have been analyzing cytokine responses from patients who contracted SARS-CoV-2 and similar common respiratory viruses. In this analysis, they were able to discover glaringly significant differences in how SARS-CoV-2 impacts cytokines compared to other common respiratory viruses.

They systematically analyzed more than 5,000 scientific studies. In an effort to find those containing immune response data from patients, they found that SARS-CoV-2 has a unique tendency to stop the rise of specific cytokines in certain patients when compared to other similar viruses. 

According to project lead Ph.D. Student Marton Olbei in the Korcsmáros Group, the onset of the cytokine storm is one of the key factors behind the mortality rates we’re seeing in a particular group of COVID-19 patients, it is critical to understand why it is happening.

“We examined the changing cytokine levels upon infection with similar viral pathogens (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, H5N1, H7N9) to highlight the protective and unique cytokine responses caused by these viruses,” added Marton. 

More and more studies are being carried out to investigate the ways to boost the body’s defenses. Maintaining a strong immunity is undeniably important in increasing one’s odds of surviving this pandemic. 

Adhering to healthy dietary and lifestyle habits is vital for immune system health and protection. It may also be helpful to take into account using some plant-based remedies like NutraHerbals Ashwagandha.

In some studies, it has been found ashwagandha has immunity-boosting and disease-fighting benefits. 

It has adaptogenic, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antimicrobial, hypocholesterolemic, cardioprotective, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic agents, as well as tannins, potassium, nitrate, fatty acids, and glucose (www.amazon.com/organic-ashwagandha-root-powder/dp/B01GZALWGO).