Huge finding from the @UCSF team. #longcovid patients have abnormally low levels of Natural Killer cells- the immune cells responsible for clearing virally infected cells.
Consistent with the growing evidence for viral persistence as a cause of LC. 1/
At this point it isn’t clear whether the difference in NK cells is the cause of viral persistence, or if it’s the result. 2/
One possibility is that NK cells can develop a dysfunctional response during acute infection (as shown in other research) which then leads to a failure to clear the virus. 3/
@NIHDirector I cannot get over how amazing this interview is. @jeremyfaust thank you so much for putting this out there.
We have needed this confirmation for SO LONG.
Now we need actual antiviral treatments.
@NIHDirector @jeremyfaust @jeremyfaust: Are you suggesting that long COVID is actually, the mechanism of that, is persistent live virus in humans?
@NIHDirector: We see evidence of persistent live virus in humans in various tissue reservoirs, including... nerves, the brain, the GI tract, to the lung.