Male COVID-19 patients produce more SARS-CoV-2 antibody than females

British health officials are seeking to donate blood, especially convalescent plasma components, to male coronavirus survivors. This is after new research finds that men produce more antibodies, which can make plasma a valuable treatment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

An antibody that attacks the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Image credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

Research by researchers NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) It emphasizes the difference in male and female immune responses. This result suggests that COVID-19 survivors donate plasma and convalescent plasma transfusions help critically ill patients develop an immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) It is the result of the national examination to confirm.

NHS data is based on an analysis of over 590 donations made between April 21 and May 14, with 75% coming from men.

The new numbers show that approximately 43 percent of male donors had plasma well-enriched in the study, compared to 29 percent of females.

“We look forward to hearing from people with coronaviruses or symptoms. We need more plasma donors, but we’d especially like to hear from men. We test all plasma donations. Because of high antibody levels in men, “it’s more likely to save lives with plasma,” said David Roberts, vice director of blood donation at NHSBT.

“At first, the immune system fights off the virus with white blood cells. If you get sick, the immune system needs to produce more antibodies that neutralize or kill the virus. Many studies show that men with COVID-19 are more likely to be more severe than women, which makes them better plasma donors when they recover,” he added.

What is Convalescent Plasma?

Convalescent plasma is a yellowish liquid that makes up about half the blood volume. Plasma after infection with the virus contains antibodies that help fight the infection.

Plasma therapy or convalescent therapy, which was first used during the Spanish influenza pandemic in 1918, is a treatment option to transfuse antibody-rich plasma in people who have recovered from viral infections, in this case coronavirus disease, in severely ill patients. The presence of antibodies in plasma helps elicit an immune response against the deadly virus.

Convalescent plasma can be donated only by people infected with the virus. Health experts recommend that donors fully recover from COVID-19. This is because their bodies have time to develop a strong antibody response. The NHS is currently collecting plasma within 28 days of recovery.

T cells

In another recent study, female COVID-19 patients Higher levels of T cell activation than in men.. T cells kill host cells directly, activate other cells in the immune system, produce cytokines, regulate immune responses, and fight infection. This survey is published on the preprint server medRxiv*Researchers have also found that men are more vulnerable to severe illness and death associated with coronavirus disease than women. In addition, the team found that men had higher median viral RNA titers in nasopharyngeal swabs. Male patients also showed higher levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines than female patients.

Test and trace program

The UK Government has launched a national testing and follow-up program aimed at recruiting coronavirus survivors to participate in plasma tests. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the plasma of a person who has recovered from a coronavirus can help develop the immune response of others and combat deadly illness.

“We need to donate plasma to people who have recovered from the coronavirus (COVID-19) as part of a clinical trial to support a national effort against the virus,” the NHS website said.

“This study will tell us how effective convalescent plasma (from those who have been infected with coronavirus) is in treating coronavirus patients,” he added. It was.

COVID-19 causes mild to moderate symptoms, but some people are at high risk of developing a severe illness. These include people with potential health problems, the elderly, and people with immunodeficiencies.

Those who enroll in the program will receive a text message about whether to donate plasma about 21 days after the results are available. Over 10,000 people have already taken part in the trial.

The program also helps people who develop COVID-19 symptoms to be quickly examined to find out if the virus is lurking, and to track close contact with people who are new to coronavirus.