Anti-A and SARS-CoV-2: an intriguing association

Author(s):Show less -

de Freitas Dutra, Valeria ^[1] ; Bonet-Bub, Carolina ^[1] ; Yokoyama, Ana Paula H. ^[1] ; Achkar, Ruth ^[2] ; Machado, Rafael Rahal Guaragna ^[3] ; Assuncao, Murilo ^[1] ; Candelaria, Gabriela ^[2] ; Soares, Camila Pereira ^[3] ; Fachini, Roberta Maria ^[2] ; Fontao-Wendel, Rita ^[2] ; Hamerschlak, Nelson ^[1] ; Reis, Luiz Fernando Lima ^[2] ; Araujo, Danielle Bastos ^{[3, 1]} ; Nudelman, Victor ^[1] ; Pinho, Joao R. R. ^[1] ; Rizzo, Luiz V. ^[1] ; Sakashita, Araci M. ^[1] ; Scuracchio, Patricia ^[2] ; Durigon, Edison Luiz ^{[3, 4]} ; Wendel, Silvano ^[2] ; Kutner, Jose M. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Hosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Av Albert Einstein 627, 3o Andar, Bloco E, BR-05652900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Hosp Sirio Libanes, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Microbiol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Sci Platform Pasteur USP, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Vox Sanguinis; v. 116, n. 5 MAR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Background Blood groups and anti-A isohemagglutinin may be involved in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Materials and Methods We retrospectively studied 268 COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors and 162 COVID-19 inpatients (total 430 subjects, confirmed by RT-PCR) and 2,212 healthy volunteer first-time blood donors as a control group. These were further divided into two groups: those with anti-A (blood types O and B) and those without it (types A and AB). Titres of nucleoproteins, and neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibody were measured in the convalescent plasma donors and inpatients. Multivariate logistic regression and non-parametric tests were applied. Results Persons having types O or B showed less infection prevalence than those of types A or AB (OR = 0 center dot 62, 95% CI 0 center dot 50-0 center dot 78; P < 0 center dot 001), but there was no difference when COVID-19 inpatients were analysed. Immunoglobulins M, G and A were lower in COVID-19 subjects of types O or B group than those of A or AB (0 center dot 16 vs. 0 center dot 19; P = 0 center dot 03, 2 center dot 11 vs. 2 center dot 55; P = 0 center dot 02, 0 center dot 23 vs. 0 center dot 32; P = 0 center dot 03, respectively). Conclusion In this retrospective cohort, COVID-19 individuals were less likely to belong to blood types O and B, and also had lower SARS-CoV-2 antibody titres than A and AB individuals. COVID-19 severity did not associate with the blood groups. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/06409-1 - Evaluation of humoral immune response and inflammatory response in patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 at Hospital Sírio Libanês and correlation with disease severity
• Grantee: Edison Luiz Durigon
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/23680-0 - Standardization of Sherlock technique (Specific High-Sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter Unlocking) using the Cas13a protein for the diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus in pediatric patients
• Grantee: Camila Pereira Soares
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 16/20045-7 - Antigen discovery and development of serological diagnostic methods and vaccine approaches against the Zika Virus (ZIKV)
• Grantee: Luis Carlos de Souza Ferreira
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/24769-2 - Zika virus in postpartum women and newborns: seroepidemiology and molecular characterization
• Grantee: Rafael Rahal Guaragna Machado
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)