What worst Covid-19 cases tell about biological patterns, scientists reveal
Scientists are beginning to untangle one of the most
complex biological mysteries of the coronavirus pandemic:
Why do some people get severely sick, whereas others quickly recover?
In
certain patients, according to a flurry of recent studies, the virus appears to
make the immune system go haywire.
Unable
to marshal the right cells and molecules to fight off the invader, the bodies
of the infected instead launch an entire arsenal of weapons — a misguided
barrage that can wreak havoc on healthy tissues, experts said.
“We
are seeing some crazy things coming up at various stages of infection,” said
Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University who led one of the new
studies.
Researchers
studying these unusual responses are finding patterns that distinguish patients
on the path to recovery from those who fare far worse. Insights gleaned from
the data might help tailor treatments to individuals, easing symptoms or
perhaps even vanquishing the virus before it has a chance to push the immune
system too far.
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