On Nov. 6, 2024, researchers from Emory University, in collaboration with scientists at Gladstone Institutes and University of California San Francisco (UCSF), announced a more precise prediction of COVID-19 severity by looking at autoantibodies in the nasal cavity, which could lead to more personalized treatment plans. For high-risk individuals, this could provide critical data to inform immediate treatment options, including quickly taking medications like Paxlovid within one week of symptoms to mitigate a severe response.

The study followed 125 patients with varying levels of COVID-19 (from mild to severe) for nearly two years. They tracked antibodies in both the blood and nasal airways, finding that more than 70 percent of people with mild or moderate COVID-19 developed certain autoantibodies—antibodies intended to attack the person’s own body and that are generally an indication of disease—in the nose that were surprisingly linked to fewer symptoms, better antiviral immunity, and faster recovery.

The findings suggest that the presence of autoantibodies in the nose can play a protective role and help regulate the immune system to prevent excessive inflammation and fight off the virus more effectively. The study was published in Science Translational Medicine.