A putative role for the tobacco mosaic virus in smokers' resistance to COVID-19.
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.
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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