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A putative role for the tobacco mosaic virus in smokers' resistance to COVID-19.
de Bernardis, E; Busà, L.
  • de Bernardis E; Clinical Pharmacologist, Addiction Service "SERT Lentini", Siracusa Province Health Agency "ASP Siracusa", Via Ospedale 18, Lentini, SR, Italy. Electronic address: ernesto@debernardis.it.
  • Busà L; Clinical Pharmacologist, Addiction Service "SERT Distretto Catania 1", Catania Province Health Agency "ASP Catania", Via Valverde 4, Catania, CT, Italy.
Med Hypotheses ; 143: 110153, 2020 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-688792
ABSTRACT
Reports from various countries suggest that tobacco smoking might protect from SARS-CoV-2 infection, since the prevalence of smoking in COVID-19 hospitalized patients is lower than in the respective general population. Apart from nicotine or other chemicals contained in tobacco smoke, we propose that a single-stranded RNA virus that infects tobacco leaves, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), might be implicated in this effect. TMV, though non-pathogenic, is found in smokers' airways, and stimulates adaptive and innate immunity, with release of specific antibodies and interferons. The latter may have preventive and/or therapeutic effects against COVID-19. If confirmed by epidemiological and interventional studies, this might lead to the use of TMV as an immunological adjuvant against SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Tobacco Mosaic Virus / Coronavirus Infections / Models, Immunological / Pandemics / Tobacco Products / Betacoronavirus / Tobacco Smoking / Smokers Type of study: Observational study Limits: Animals / Humans Language: English Journal: Med Hypotheses Year: 2020 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Tobacco Mosaic Virus / Coronavirus Infections / Models, Immunological / Pandemics / Tobacco Products / Betacoronavirus / Tobacco Smoking / Smokers Type of study: Observational study Limits: Animals / Humans Language: English Journal: Med Hypotheses Year: 2020 Document Type: Article