By Mikhail V. Blagosklonny – Rapamycin Press – June 15, 2020
As an amateur in virology, I present preliminary “infectable subgroup” hypothesis to explain:
- Why COVID-19 epidemic flattened in all countries even with poor mitigation measures
- Why new cases spike only in some (but not all) counties and US states since reopening
- Why epidemiologic prognoses failed
In existing epidemiological models (unless I am mistaken), chances to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus depend only on mitigation measures, such as social distancing. Biologically all people are equal.
Consider in contrast that there are subgroups of highly-infectable (< 20%) and low-infectable people. During epidemic, most highly-infectable people become infected and the curve flattens earlier than models predict (when just a few % of population get infected). When such places re-opened there will be no spike. Spikes will be observed only in places/states that did not flatten the curve yet. In former hot spots, cases will continue decreasing upon reopening.
Noteworthy, on the ships, most people (low-infectable group) do not become sick regardless of how long they stay together.
Low-infectable person does not get infected (and will not develop antibody either), when exposed to the virus.
The hypothesis also explains why it is more difficult to contain the spread, when just a few cases occur, than to flatten the curve at the peak of cases: All higly-infectable people have been already infected.
What determines infectable phenotype? Unlike COVID-19 vulnerability (mortality rate), infectability does not depend much on age, age-related diseases and gender. So we do not know.
There must be a biological component, including polymorphism.
Before the mutation had occurred in the bat virus, all people were non-infectable. Mutation rendered people infectable, but not necessarily all people. There is polymorphism of receptors, enzymes and so on. Also non-genetic factors such as diet, etc. may contribute to the infectable phenotype. Behavioral factors (low vs high social behavior) are extrinsic factors of infectability. Family clusters of COVID-19 suggest genetic factors.
Predictions:
- There will not be drastic spikes in former hot spots such as some parts of New York upon re-opening.
- There will be no second wave in the Fall, unless the virus mutates once again to make non-infecatble people infectable. There may be new hot spots in previously unaffected places, but this is all first wave.
Further directions: What are the markers and mechanisms of non-infectability?