A new large study of over 1,150 people hospitalized for COVID-19 shows that an infection with SARS-CoV-2 can activate viruses that had previously been dormant in the body. Almost half of the patients experienced such a virus reactivation, even though they had no known compromised immune system.
The researchers found that Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and so-called anelloviruses, among others, became active during different stages of the disease. People in whom these viruses were reactivated more often had a more severe COVID-19 in the first few weeks.
The study also investigated whether virus reactivation could be linked to long-term COVID. Unlike some previous studies, no clear connection was found between Epstein–Barr virus and long-term symptoms. However, a connection was seen between activation of anelloviruses and persistent symptoms such as fatigue and reduced physical strength. However, the researchers emphasize that the study cannot prove that the viruses cause the symptoms – only that they occur together.
The results also suggest that activated anelloviruses can affect the immune system and contribute to impaired immune regulation, but this needs to be confirmed in more studies.
The researchers point out that the participants in the study were unvaccinated and were infected with the early variants of the coronavirus before mid-2021. Therefore, it cannot be said that the results apply in the same way to people who have been vaccinated or infected with later virus variants.
The next step will be to investigate whether drugs that can prevent dormant viruses from activating can also reduce the risk of or alleviate long-term symptoms after covid-19. This could provide a better understanding of why some people develop long-term covid while others recover completely. (Translated from Swedish text written by Patrik Andersson in FB group SARS-CoV-2 Omvärldsbevakning )
Category: The Virus
The article describes an unusual but serious case in which a person with a pre-existing inflammatory disease (psoriasis) became severely impaired after a covid-19 infection.
After the person had covid, a high fever, severe skin rashes and a general deterioration in condition quickly developed. It turned out to be a severe form of psoriasis that can affect the entire body and in some cases become life-threatening. This type of deterioration is unusual but known in medicine.
The researchers explain this by how the immune system reacts. Covid-19 can affect the immune system for a long time, even after the infection itself has passed. In some people, this can lead to the immune system becoming overactive and starting to drive inflammation in the body. If you already have an inflammatory disease, it can then flare up severely.
They point out in particular that certain immune cells and signaling substances in the body can increase after the infection, which can create an imbalance that triggers the disease. So it is no longer about the virus itself, but about how the body reacts afterwards.
The conclusion is that in some cases, COVID-19 can act as a trigger for serious inflammatory conditions, especially in people who already have a vulnerability. This does not mean that this is common, but it shows that the infection can have more long-term and complex effects than just an acute respiratory illness.
Credit: Patrik Andersson, Sweden
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What SARS-CoV-2 Does to the Body (2nd Edition, July 2023)
An extensive compilation of links to studies and statistics on what SARS-Cov-2 does to your body, brain etc. And it is way worse than most people know.
https://www.panaccindex.info/p/what-sars-cov-2-does-to-the-body
Early on in the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic findings indicated that the virus penetrated the blood-brain barrier and entered the brain. Since then more and more have been found that points to SARS-Cov-2 sticking around for long after seemingly recovering from Covid.
When a cell gets infected by SARS-Cov-2 it causes chaos in the cells RNA functions in many different ways and ultimately creates havoc in how the cell functions.
https://www.gu.se/en/news/coronavirus-causes-chaos-in-infected-cells-rna
Categories
Adults Air cleaners Antibodies BA.4/BA.5 bivalent mRNA vaccines Break through infection Breathing protection CD14+ monocytes - White blood cells Children Exhausted T-cells Immune system Long Covid mRNA Vaccines Other respiratory viruses Other viruses Protection T-cells The Virus Traditional vaccines Transmission Transmission and mitigation Vaccines
COVID-19’s impact on the immune system, and how this may affect subsequent infections
Covid-19 opens up your immune defense for further infections.
Covid-19 is a horrible virus. Much worse than most people understands. And the brain is certainly not spared. And it can even be seen on MRI.
What determines how ill the acute phase of Covid-19 will make you regarding to pneumonia? It seems to be your DNA.
Covid-19 widely affects your brain. Might explain why some people’s personalities changes.
Covid-19 affects our brains. Those of us still uninfected can notice how people around us change after their first bat with the virus. In long covid it often continues…
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/what-we-now-know-about-long-covid-and-our-brains.amp