Australian scientists conducted a large-scale study, during which they conducted a thorough analysis
New research, not yet peer-reviewed andunpublished in the journal, describes the effect of infection on the peripheral immune system of patients undergoing COVID-19. Most of the subjects suffered only a mild form of the disease. Blood samples were taken from each subject three times during the six-month study.
Scientists have studied the levels of about 130 differentimmune cells, and monitored antibody responses and measured the expression of thousands of different genes associated with immune functions. The results show persistent inflammatory responses and immune dysregulation for six months after recovery.
The study revealed a significant violationregulation of immune cell numbers, which was strongest 12 weeks after infection but was still evident in most cases for six months and possibly even longer.
David Lynn, one of the lead researchers on the project.
The co-author of the study notes that it is possible that the dysregulation is related to the physical symptoms of prolonged COVID-19, however, further research is needed to prove this.
An earlier British study published inApril, revealed persistent immune disorders in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 six months after discharge. However, the work of Australian scientists is focusing on various cases of COVID-19, from mild to severe. And one of the biggest surprises for the researchers was the lack of any correlation between the severity of the acute illness and the degree of post-infectious immune dysfunction.
The new study is still available onmedRxiv.
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