Scientists at Yale University have concluded that autoantibodies are the main cause of severe cases of COVID-19. It is because of these antibodies that the immune system can be seriously disrupted. Improperly formed proteins, which in the normal functioning of the body should cope with the virus, begin to attack human tissues and organs. It should be added that the number of these defective proteins is directly related to the severity of the patient's symptoms.

In the course of the study, the researchers used a high-performance method of decoding the amino acid sequence. Using this method, the researchers analyzed blood samples from 194 healthcare workers and patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus for the presence of autoantibodies.

Patients with COVID-19 showed a dramatic increase in autoantibody activity compared to uninfected people. In most cases, autoantibodies were directed against immunomodulatory proteins and receptors on the cell surface.

As a result of the activity of autoantibodies, the immune system ceases to effectively cope with the virus, which leads to complications. Experiments on transgenic mice with the human protein ACE2 (this protein serves as a kind of gateway for infection with the cell virus) showed that animals with autoantibodies were more likely to die when infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Autoantibodies remain in the human body after recovery, which explains the long-term post-ovoid syndrome. Even mild cases of infection can trigger the production of autoantibodies, which can lead to long-term health problems.