Leptin deficiency, caused by malnutrition, makes you susceptible to sars-cov-2 infection but could offer protection from severe Covid-19
| dc.contributor.author | Schoeman, Dewald | |
| dc.contributor.author | Fielding, Burtram C. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-10-15T11:37:38Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-10-15T11:37:38Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021 | |
| dc.description.abstract | In much of the developing world, severe malnutrition is the most prevalent cause of immunodeficiency and affects up to 50% of the population in some impoverished communities. As yet, we do not know how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) will behave in populations with immunodeficiency caused by malnourishment. Interestingly, researchers are now speculating that, in some instances, a defective cellular immune system could paradoxically be a protective factor against severe disease in certain patients contracting SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. This could be linked to the absence of T-cell activation. Based on available information presented here, it is plausible that the hyperimmune response, and subsequent cytokine storm often associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), could be “counteracted” by the defective immune response seen in individuals with malnutrition-induced leptin deficiency. In this paper, we proposed a theory that although those with malnutrition-linked leptin deficiency are at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, they are at lower risk of developing severe COVID-19. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Schoeman, D., & Fielding, B. C. (2021). Leptin deficiency, caused by malnutrition, makes you susceptible to sars-cov-2 infection but could offer protection from severe Covid-19. mSphere, 6(3), e00031-21, 1-6. 10.1128/mSphere.00031-21 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2379-5042 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | 10.1128/mSphere.00031-21 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10566/6916 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | American Society for Microbiology | en_US |
| dc.subject | Covid-19 | en_US |
| dc.subject | Undernutrition | en_US |
| dc.subject | Leptin deficiency | en_US |
| dc.subject | Cytokine storm | en_US |
| dc.subject | Malnutrition | en_US |
| dc.title | Leptin deficiency, caused by malnutrition, makes you susceptible to sars-cov-2 infection but could offer protection from severe Covid-19 | en_US |
| dc.type | Article | en_US |