Porton Down scientists trying to predict who could become seriously ill from Covid-19
Vital research taking place at state of the art Wiltshire laboratories
Last updated 15th Mar 2021
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down is trying to predict who could become seriously ill from coronavirus by analysing the immune response of patients.
The pilot study involving Hywel Dda University Health Board and Swansea University in Wales is examining blood samples from 30 hospital patients
Scientists then compare how their immune systems react to the illness.
Evidence suggests some patients become severely ill from Covid-19 after having a massive inflammatory response from their immune system, part of which is often known as a "cytokine storm" which can lead to organ failure and death.
Others don't have the same response
The research is looking at the activation of white cells - part of the body's immune system - and the proteins which are present on their surfaces, using techniques such as flow cytometry which detects and measures physical and chemical characteristics of cells.
The study is in its early stages, with data and findings anticipated in the coming months.
But it is hoped this analysis could help answer questions on how and why patients are affected so differently by Covid-19 and potentially even lead to new tests and treatments in future.
Professor Tim Atkins, who coordinates Dstl's research on coronavirus, said the team was "really excited and humbled" to be involved in the work.
He hopes the research will help put clinicians on "the front foot" to provide them with information that allows them to "make early interventions and improve the outcome for patients who get severely ill from Covid."
He told the PA news agency:
"What we want to do is play our role in providing data that I guess develops the common scientific understanding of this disease.
"And that ultimately is used to help patient outcomes to help globally and the United Kingdom fight this pandemic and so that coronavirus no longer represents the threat that it currently does to our way to our way of life."
The project is part of a number of studies on coronavirus being carried out by Dstl including developing equipment such as an artificial finger to check how long the disease can survive on surfaces.
Scientists are also a looking at which disinfectants may be the most effective against it.