[Washington Examiner] A new study from India shows men may be more susceptible to the novel coronavirus than women because of their reproductive organs.
Researchers in Mumbai and New York reportedly found that the coronavirus puts men at additional risk by binding with a protein in cells called angiotensin converting enzyme 2, which is found in tissues within the lungs, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and testicles.
The researchers, Dr. Aditi Shastri and Dr. Jayanthi Shastri, hypothesize the virus has an additional entry point in men while simultaneously being protected from the immune system. However, there is not clear evidence yet to support the hypothesis.
Aditi Shastri told the Los Angeles Times that if the virus hides within the testes, it could potentially be sexually transmitted: "I would definitely consider that virus could be secreted into seminal fluid." |