A Supercomputer Analyzed Covid-19 -- and an Interesting New Theory Has Emerged

[thecrow]

Last edited Fri Sep 4, 2020, 03:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Earlier this summer, the Summit supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee set about crunching data on more than 40,000 genes from 17,000 genetic samples in an effort to better understand Covid-19. Summit is the second-fastest computer in the world, but the process — which involved analyzing 2.5 billion genetic combinations — still took more than a week.

When Summit was done, researchers analyzed the results. It was, in the words of Dr. Daniel Jacobson, lead researcher and chief scientist for computational systems biology at Oak Ridge, a “eureka moment.” The computer had revealed a new theory about how Covid-19 impacts the body: the bradykinin hypothesis. The hypothesis provides a model that explains many aspects of Covid-19, including some of its most bizarre symptoms. It also suggests 10-plus potential treatments, many of which are already FDA approved. Jacobson’s group published their results in a paper in the journal eLife in early July.

According to the team’s findings, a Covid-19 infection generally begins when the virus enters the body through ACE2 receptors in the nose, (The receptors, which the virus is known to target, are abundant there.) The virus then proceeds through the body, entering cells in other places where ACE2 is also present: the intestines, kidneys, and heart. This likely accounts for at least some of the disease’s cardiac and GI symptoms.


But once Covid-19 has established itself in the body, things start to get really interesting. According to Jacobson’s group, the data Summit analyzed shows that Covid-19 isn’t content to simply infect cells that already express lots of ACE2 receptors. Instead, it actively hijacks the body’s own systems, tricking it into upregulating ACE2 receptors in places where they’re usually expressed at low or medium levels, including the lungs.

https://elemental.medium.com/a-supercomputer-analyzed-covid-19-and-an-interesting-new-theory-has-emerged-31cb8eba9d63

My son sent me this article and what it has to say is mindblowing.
It explains a lot about how Covid works.

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. Very good article.

We have lots to learn about this disease.

[LizBeth]

2. I read it a day or two ago. Very interesting. Sent it to some people.

[albacore]

3. Kicking this one. The article was deadly. nt

[thecrow]

4. Shamelessly self kicking for much improved snippets

[Towlie]

5. Be suspicious of a science article that confuses "theory" with "hypothesis".

... a new theory about how Covid-19 impacts the body: the bradykinin hypothesis.

I'm not questioning the science or the scientists, just the description. It may be a good idea to look for an article written by someone with a better basic understanding of the scientific method.

[StarryNite]

6. " the virus enters the body through ACE2 receptors in the nose"

"According to the team’s findings, a Covid-19 infection generally begins when the virus enters the body through ACE2 receptors in the nose, (The receptors, which the virus is known to target, are abundant there.) "

And how many idiots wear their masks under their noses?!