UAE researchers investigate why Covid-19 is severe in some people


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Researchers in the UAE hope to understand why Covid-19 is more severe in some people.

The virus can cause a wide range of symptoms, from barely a runny nose in some people to life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia and blood clots, in others.

About one third of sufferers remain completely asymptomatic.

But, aside from known risks, such as hypertension and diabetes, the reason why people respond so differently to the infection is largely a mystery.

Our team is trying to establish how other genes and proteins that explain the predisposition of certain patients go completely asymptomatic and those that respond poorly to the infection

A team from several universities and institutions in the UAE will study whether a person’s genes and proteins make them more susceptible to developing serious complications.

"On average, it takes five to six days for the symptoms to show and people with mild symptoms can generally take care of themselves at home,” said Dr Habiba Alsafar, a member of the team. He is associate professor in the Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and director of Khalifa University Centre for Biotechnology.

"However, for patients with underlying health problems, the infection can prove fatal," said Dr Alsafar.

“Our team is trying to establish how other genes and proteins that explain the predisposition of certain patients to go completely asymptomatic and those [who] respond poorly to the infection."

The team is made up of experts from Khalifa University of Science and Technology, UAE University, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, Dubai Health Authority, and the University of Sharjah.

They will work on projects that study how the immune system responds to the infection.

One area of interest is RNA, which is involved in turning genetic information into the body's proteins. They will also seek to identify biomarkers that could suggest why patients stay asymptomatic, while others develop mild or moderate symptoms.

Researchers in the UAE are already working on projects related to the virus.

A team from Abu Dhabi's Cleveland Clinic and Khalifa University joined forces to launch a study to discover how long Covid-19 can travel through the air.

Their work involves spraying a colloid comprised of silicon nanoparticles to simulate a patients' cough.

A colloid is a mixture in which very small particles of one substance are distributed evenly throughout another substance.

The nanoparticles generated glow red under ultraviolet light, allowing the team to see how they spread.

Researchers at Khalifa University are also involved in tracking wastewater to predict the spread of the disease among the population.

Studies show that people infected with the virus, even those who do not develop symptoms, shed it through their excrement.

And because levels of Sars-Cov-2 would be expected to mirror the prevalence of infections in the population, experts said studying wastewater would give authorities an indication of how widespread the virus was in the community.

The researchers said the work is “tantamount to essentially testing everyone who has contributed to that sample – in other words, a way of mass testing”.

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The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year

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Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged

Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic

Power: 445bhp

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Price: Dh474,600

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Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

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Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.

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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

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Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

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Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
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Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Fixtures:

Tue, Oct 16, 8pm: Kandahar Knights v Kabul Zwanan; Wed, Oct 17, 4pm: Balkh Legends v Nangarhar Leopards; 8pm: Kandahar Knights v Paktia Panthers; Thu, Oct 18, 4pm: Balkh Legends v Kandahar Knights; 8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers; Fri, Oct 19, 8pm: First semi-final; Sat, Oct 20, 8pm: Second semi-final; Sun, Oct 21, 8pm: final

Table:

1. Balkh Legends 6 5 1 10

2. Paktia Panthers 6 4 2 8

3. Kabul Zwanan 6 3 3 6

4. Nagarhar Leopards 7 2 5 4

5. Kandahar Knights 5 1 4 2

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The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.

What’s the draw in Asia?

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No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year.