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Innate immunity

Aged nasal epithelium is more prone to severe COVID-19

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Age is the single greatest risk factor driving mortality after encounter with SARS-CoV-2. A new study shows that the composition of nasal epithelial cells varies across ages, facilitating SARS-CoV-2 growth and spread in older people.

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Fig. 1: Distinct responses to SARS-CoV-2 of NECs of children and older adults.

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Correspondence to Ivan Zanoni.

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Zanoni, I. Aged nasal epithelium is more prone to severe COVID-19. Nat Immunol 25, 722–724 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-024-01824-x

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