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COVID-19 and the ethnicity link - is there a photochemical link?
Edge, Ruth; Truscott, T George.
  • Edge R; Dalton Cumbrian Facility, Westlakes Science Park, The University of Manchester, Cumbria, CA24 3HA, UK.
  • Truscott TG; School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK. t.g.truscott@keele.ac.uk.
Photochem Photobiol Sci ; 20(1): 183-188, 2021 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1103608
ABSTRACT
A hypothesis is proposed to explain the increased detrimental effect of COVID-19 for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) men and women compared to Caucasian individuals. This is based on the differing photochemistry of phaeomelanin in fair skin and eumelanin in dark/black skin. It is suggested that a range of reactive oxygen species, including, singlet oxygen and the superoxide radical anion, derived via direct photolysis of phaeomelanin, may escape the melanocyte and cause subsequent damage to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is further suggested that (large) carbon and sulphur peroxy radicals, from oxygen addition to radicals formed by carbon-sulphur bond cleavage, may assist via damage to the cell membranes. It is also speculated that light absorption by phaeomelanin and the subsequent C-S bond cleavage, leads to release of pre-absorbed reactive oxygen species, such as singlet oxygen and free radicals, which may also contribute to an enhanced protective effect for fair-skinned people.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ethnicity / Photochemical Processes / COVID-19 Type of study: Randomized controlled trials Limits: Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Photochem Photobiol Sci Journal subject: Biology / Chemistry Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S43630-020-00004-8

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ethnicity / Photochemical Processes / COVID-19 Type of study: Randomized controlled trials Limits: Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Photochem Photobiol Sci Journal subject: Biology / Chemistry Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S43630-020-00004-8