Individuals who contract COVID-19 but suffer no symptoms may be the beneficiaries of their body’s production of virus-fighting proteins called interferons, according to research by AKU scientists.

Using chip-based microarray technology that allowed them to examine more than 21,000 genes at once, researchers compared COVID-19 patients with minimal symptoms to those with symptomatic mild and severe disease. They found key differences in the intensity of interferon-stimulated genes that are critical for restricting viral replication and persistence.

“Interferon has been widely discussed, and other studies have shown that in individuals with severe COVID-19 the interferon response is dysregulated, exacerbating the disease,” said Professor Zahra Hasan, the study’s principal investigator. “But few studies have examined the interferon response in asymptomatic individuals. Our research suggests that interferons likely drive clearance of SARS-CoV-2 infection.”

Laboratory-made interferons have long been used to treat several types of viral infections, including hepatitis B. AKU’s research suggests that this commonly available treatment could help fend off the novel coronavirus in the early stages of infection, providing accessible therapy for the disease. AKU is the only institution in Pakistan using chip-based microarray technology for research and clinical diagnostics.

Funding for the study was provided by a Rapid Research Grant for COVID-19 from the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.