If that were the case, blood group antigens may somehow influence the likelihood of the infection taking hold, he said.
The team analyzed how the RBD interacted with red blood cells isolated from blood group A, B and O individuals; they also ran experiments with synthetic blood group antigens, based on antigens found on both respiratory and red blood cells from the three blood groups.This allowed the team to compare whether and how the RBD binds with blood group antigens on blood cells and in the respiratory tracts.
"The flavor of blood group antigens that are expressed on the surface of red blood cells are slightly different than the flavor that lines our lungs," Stowell noted.Specifically, due to their differing molecular structures, the antigens bind a little differently to respiratory cells than they do to blood cells, he said.
Additionally, in the body, other substances compete to bind to the same blood group antigens, so it's unclear how many coronavirus particles would ultimately latch on, he added
What's more, the type A antigens found on the surface of airway cells can also be secreted elsewhere in the body, such as in the saliva, he saidThat means the virus could potentially bind to these free-floating antigens, as well, decreasing the number of viral particles that reach the respiratory cells, he said
And in addition to unique antigens, different blood types also carry specific blood group antibodies, molecules that help the immune system eliminate foreign invaders, Barington saidIt may be that both blood group antigens and antibodies influence the likelihood of COVID-19 infection, and their individual contributions will need to be sorted out, he said
"The critical thing to do [now] is to determine whether the actual virus, in terms of its ability to infect cells, is influenced by blood group antigens or not."