With more than 2.5 million COVID-19 infections confirmed in 185 countries globally, scientists have made themselves busy in doing clinical trials for vaccines while health officials want to slow the spread with effective policy implementation. Meanwhile for the common public, it is integral to truly know what we are fighting and what is going behind the scenes of the deadly pandemic’s working. In this part, we discuss a haemoglobin attack theory that tries to explain COVID-19 menace in the human body and the challenges posed to it by medical experts in the field. To read the first part of the series, click here: Understanding COVID19 – I: How Coronavirus Attacks The Body
Crux of the Matter
Iron Overdose Causing Havoc Inside the Human Body? Two research papers from Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, China have been published on the medRxiv online journal, which although are yet to be peer-reviewed, but if validated, could be a groundbreaking discovery for critical and severe stage COVID-19 patients.
The transport molecule cum pigment, Hemoglobin in red blood cells (RBCs), consists of subunits, two α and two β proteins. Each subunit contains a heme group surrounded by a large protein called globin. This Heme is the important component of hemoglobin, constituting a structure without iron called porphyrin and an iron molecule. When this iron is in divalent state, hemoglobin can release CO2 and capture O2 atoms in alveolar cells, that are balloon-like sacs at the endpoints of the respiratory tree in lungs.
The Structure of SARS-COV-2
The papers basically state that in order to survive in the host body, the SARS-COV-2 virus protein binds with this porphyrin ring, detaches the original iron ion, and then makes haemoglobin incapable of carrying O2. With an increased number of damaged red blood cells, the body cells go in a frenzy in thirst for oxygen. This also leads to accumulation of harmful iron ions. Subsequently, multiple organ failure occurs.
If it is Indeed True i) Answer to greater mortality rates in aged people lies in their decreased hemoglobin count According to research conducted by American Society of Hematology, Hemoglobin values in men between 20 and 60 years of age were found to be 14.5 to 15 gm per 100 ml. While the average fell to 12.4 in men between 80 and 90 years of age, making them victims of less immunity and more prone to fatal diseases like COVID-19.
New study suggests saliva can be as effective as nasopharyngeal swabs for detection of #coronavirus; allowing self-collection that can reduce direct provider-patient interactions, lowering the risk to healthcare system and demand on testing supply chain. https://t.co/IilDUdjEAr pic.twitter.com/5rfkY2001a — Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) April 23, 2020
ii) Passive immunization can save the day The convalescent plasma therapy uses antibodies from the blood of a recovered COVID-19 patient to treat those critically affected by the virus.The weakened invaders from the former fight the foreign pathogen, SARS-COV-2 in the latter and increase their immunity. This can also immunise those at a high risk of contracting the virus like health workers and family members of the patient.
Criticism Drawn by This Theory As per Matthew Amdahl, MD, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, there is no solid evidence to suggest that RBCs are a significant site of virus localization or replication. He cited a recent study that examined lung tissue samples from a patient who died of Covid-19 and believes the focus should be solely on the root cause of death, alveolar cell damage. The above work has been entirely performed using computer models and in-vitro data verification, which involves experimentation in petri-dish or test tube, is pending.
Lots of unsupported theories about #COVID19 being caused/worsened by 5G have been circulating In our latest review, we explain why the idea that 5G would disrupt hemoglobin’s ability to bind oxygen is incorrect and baselesshttps://t.co/oPRJOCQKvA — Health Feedback (@HealthFeedback) April 15, 2020
Curiopedia
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a type of respiratory failure characterized by the rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and bluish skin coloration. Globally, ARDS affects more than 3 million people a year. The condition was first described in 1967.
ARDS is caused by Sepsis (serious and widespread infection of the bloodstream), inhalation of harmful substances, severe pneumonia, head, chest injury, and through pancreatitis, massive blood transfusions, and burns.
The first adjective people generally use to describe blood is “red.” Haemoglobin is the protein molecule responsible for making blood red. Named by combining the Greek word for blood — haima — with the idea of globs, hemoglobin is like a little blood blob. The protein was discovered in 1840 by Friedrich Ludwig Hunefeld, a member of the German Biochemistry Association. This discovery was made while viewing the blood of an earthworm.
Haemoglobin has a porphyrin ring with an Iron ion. A similar porphyrin ring with Magnesium ion makes up chlorophylls in plants.
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