Antigen Persistence in Long Covid Patients: New Research Findings

2024-03-10 12:06:01

Antigen detection for up to 2 years in Long Covid patients

Entered 2024.03.10 21:03 Entered 2024.03.10 21:03 Modified 2024.03.10 20:14 Views 0

A new study has found that remnants of the COVID-19 virus can remain in the human blood and tissues for more than a year after infection. [사진=게티이미지뱅크]A new study has found that remnants of the COVID-19 virus can remain in the human blood and tissues for more than a year after infection. Based on a presentation by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) introduced at the ‘Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections’ recently held in Denver, USA, health and medicine portal WebMD announced on the 8th ( This is what was reported (local time),

Researchers said that in patients infected with COVID-19, coronavirus sources were found in the blood up to 14 months after infection. Additionally, in the case of long-term COVID-19 (Long COVID) patients, COVID-19 antigens were found in tissue samples up to 2 years after infection. “These two studies provide the strongest evidence to date that corona antigens can persist in some people despite what they think is a normal immune response,” said Michael Peluso, an epidemiologist at UCSF School of Medicine who led both studies.

Scientists do not yet know what causes long corona, in which symptoms of the disease persist even months or years after recovery. The most common symptoms of Long Covid are extreme fatigue, difficulty breathing, loss of smell, and muscle pain.

UCSF researchers examined blood samples from 171 people infected with COVID-19 and found that the COVID-19 spike protein was still present in some people up to 14 months after infection. The antigen was found more often in patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 or had severe symptoms even if they were not hospitalized.

The researchers next looked at the UCSF Long Covid Tissue Bank, which contains samples donated by patients with and without long Covid. Bits of viral RNA were found in people’s tissues up to two years after they were infected, but no evidence of reinfection was found. Remnants of the virus were found in connective tissue where immune cells are located. This suggests that the debris caused the immune system to attack.

Researchers say they are conducting clinical trials to see whether monoclonal antibodies or antivirals can remove such long-lasting viral debris. Because the findings were presented at an academic conference, they should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.