El COVID-19 ha infectado a cientos de millones de personas en todo el mundo y, sin embargo, algunos nunca lo contraen. Investigadores británicos creen ahora que la razón podría ser un gen específico que avisa con antelación al sistema inmunitario para que destruya rápidamente a los invasores víricos.

London

Scientists may have found a clue as to why some individuals have never contracted COVID-19. Researchers in the United Kingdom conducted a challenge trial where healthy, unvaccinated adults were intentionally exposed to the original coronavirus strain. The study revealed that those who never became infected had a rapid immune response, potentially linked to high activity in a specific gene, HLA-DQA2. This gene may help the immune system quickly identify and destroy viral invaders before they can replicate. 

Immunologists, while intrigued by this discovery, note that the role of HLA-DQA2 in offering protection is still not fully understood. The ongoing research includes individuals like Hugh Potter, who was exposed to the virus but never fell ill, suggesting that his DNA might carry this protective gene. Scientists believe that uncovering how HLA-DQA2 functions could lead to the development of new vaccines targeting COVID-19 and possibly other respiratory illnesses. 

Further genetic research is necessary to fully understand the implications of this discovery. Experts stress that while this finding is significant, it represents just the beginning of uncovering the complex genetic factors that contribute to immunity against COVID-19 and other viruses.



Los científicos descubren por qué algunos nunca tuvieron COVID-19

Los científicos tienen nuevas pistas sobre por qué algunas personas nunca contraen COVID. Hay mucho que aprender de estudios como éste y es bastante emocionante. En el primer ensayo de desafío del mundo realizado en plena pandemia investigadores del Reino Unido infectaron a docenas de adultos sanos no vacunados con una dosis baja del coronavirus original. Luego se siguió de cerca el tiempo que tardó su sistema inmunológico en activarse. Los participantes que se infectaron de inmediato tuvieron una respuesta lenta. En los que se infectaron pero eliminaron rápidamente el virus fue más rápida. Pero los que nunca se infectaron tuvieron la respuesta más rápida. Los investigadores observaron altos niveles de actividad en un gen específico llamado HLA-DQA2. Los científicos creen que ayuda a señalar invasores virales al sistema inmune tan rápido que los destruye antes de que puedan replicarse. Este trabajo es realmente especial en el punto del medio. Los inmunólogos dicen que aún no están seguros de cómo o por qué ese gen específico ofrece protección. Si me pidieras que apostara dinero sobre cuáles son los genes que estarían implicados con la protección estos no son los que yo habría elegido. Me siento afortunado. Conocimos a Hugh Potter en 2022. Estuvo expuesto al COVID a través de su mujer pero nunca enfermó. Su ADN forma parte de una investigación en curso. Potter se pregunta ahora si ese gen le está protegiendo. Tienen un gen que podría significar en el futuro posibles curas para la gente de algo más que el virus. Los médicos que han estado recogiendo muestras de ADN de personas como Potter dicen que que aunque el estudio del Reino Unido es útil, hay más secretos genéticos por desentrañar. Pone un ancla en el suelo y dice que tenemos que mirar esto y todo lo que lo rodea así es como se hacen estos grandes descubrimientos. Todos los científicos con los que hablamos dijeron que aunque hay nuevas variantes y se necesita mucha más investigación este gen podría ayudar a inventar nuevas vacunas contra el COVID y posiblemente contra otros virus respiratorios. Christine Birak, Noticias CBC, Toronto.

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