The severity of respiratory diseases such as gripe or the Covid-19 varies depending on who has been infected. Many people usually have a quick recovery, while others have complications that can be fatal. In this context, a group of researchers identified a gene associated with this that could mean a major scientific breakthrough.
This is about the OLAH gene, which researchers claim has a fundamental role in the severity of the diseaseThe study was conducted by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.
Covid-19 and flu: research on the gene that could aggravate the symptoms
“Our first revealing moment came during our analysis of hospitalized patients with influenza A (H7N9), where we discovered a consistent association between high levels of OLAH expression and fatal outcomes“, the doctor began explaining Brendon Chua from the University of Melbourne, a viral and translational immunologist at the Doherty Institute.
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The study states that we all have this gene, but its expression varies during the early stages of a respiratory infection.
Who also led the research referred to the patients who recovered and indicated that in this case they showed a very low expression of the OLAH gene throughout their hospital stay.
In this regard, he noted that “subsequent investigations with animal models and cell cultures revealed that OLAH is critical in generating potentially deadly inflammation associated with respiratory viruses. What is interesting is that We all have this genebut Its expression varies during the early stages of a respiratory infectionso some of us recover faster, while others suffer serious complications.”
Expert opinion on the discovery of the gene
Katherine Kedzierska, Professor at the University of Melbourne, head of the Human T Cell Laboratory at the Doherty Institute and who led this research said: “We are really excited about the potential of gene OLAH to serve as universal indicator of disease severity in different respiratory infections.”
In this way, he explained, the gene expression levels could be used as a “cutting-edge tool for assessing patient prognosis.” This would give doctors the opportunity to detect early risk assessment and necessary treatment strategies.
Meanwhile, the teacher Sharon Lewin from the University of Melbourne and director of the Doherty Institute said the results of the study represent valuable information that “could have a deep impact in clinical practice and in the lives of people suffering from respiratory infections.”
The team is now working on the Development of diagnostic methods based on OLAHThe goal is to implement them in clinics to determine at the time of patient admission who will recover and who is at risk of death.
