A study has found that a viral protein, Orf7b, causes cell death in the lungs, leading to lung injury in COVID-19 patients.

Regulation of a transcription regulator, c-Myc, can alleviate this cell death, suggesting Orf7b as a potential therapeutic target.

Over 20% of COVID-19 patients experience long COVID symptoms such as tiredness, difficulty breathing, and loss of taste or smell.

Long COVID is more prevalent among the unvaccinated and certain subpopulations.

People with long COVID show persistent changes in blood proteins, suggesting ongoing immune activation.

Blood protein analysis can predict the likelihood of developing long COVID and has identified potential biomarkers related to immune responses, blood clotting, and inflammation.

Disruption in the complement system and blood coagulation in long COVID patients suggests an ongoing thromboinflammatory response.

These findings could lead to diagnostic tests and targeted therapies for long COVID.