Representative image
NEW DELHI: Why are some young people without any pre-existing medical condition getting severe Covid-19 infection? A new study shows it could be because of genetic defects or primary immunodeficiency that impacts the body’s ability to produce interferon — a critical element in fighting Covid-19.
Interferons are proteins made and released by host cells in response to virus attack. A virus-infected cell releases interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their anti-viral defences. Findings of the study, published in the ‘Journal of American Medical Associa