A new study provides further evidence that people with certain blood types may be more likely to contract COVID-19.

Specifically, it found that the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is particularly attracted to the blood group A antigen found on respiratory cells.

The researchers focused on a protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus called the receptor binding domain (RBD), which is the part of the virus that attaches to the host cells. That makes it an important target for scientists trying to learn how the virus infects people. The team assessed how the SARS-CoV-2 RBD interacted with respiratory and red blood cells in A, B and O blood types. The results showed that the SARS-CoV-2 RBD had a strong preference for binding to blood group A found on respiratory cells, but had no preference for blood group A red blood cells, or other blood groups found on respiratory or red cells.

The SARS-CoV-2 RBD's preference to recognize and attach to the blood type A antigen found in the lungs of people with blood type A may provide insight into the potential link between blood group A and COVID-19 infection. It was published March 3 in the journal Blood Advances. These findings alone can't fully describe or predict how coronaviruses would affect patients of various blood types, the researchers noted.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-03-scientists-blood-covid-infection.html