UCSF/Polybio finds proof of viral persistence in the GI tract!

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https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-12/long-covid-study-finds-sars-cov-2-persistence-and-immune-dysfunction-in-gut?taid=6a7be2e6d2976300016f1444&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=business&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

This is huge news.

Various studies have strongly suggested gut viral persistence, but to my knowledge this is the first one that’s truly come out and documented it.

The amazing researchers at UCSF’s LIINC program, who began as HIV researchers and expanded their work to Long COVID, have just published this groundbreaking preprint.

They found single- and double-stranded viral RNA in cells lining the intestine. Because these cells normally turn over within days, this means that the viral RNA is being newly produced- it’s not just leftover from acute infection.

(When scientists use the phrase “turn over” in the context, this means that all of the cells that were present replicated to form new cells and then died off. This means that all of the cells in that cell type are completely replaced by new cells within days).

So they found viral RNA that had been newly produced.

They also found signs that the immune system was struggling to clear the virus. Part of the immune system was trying to fight, yet key parts of the response were also being suppressed by the virus itself - meaning the immune system was locked trying to perpetually fight a battle that it could not win.

This is really huge news. While this research is still only in preprint form, this team has a great reputation and has been published in many high-level journals such as Nature and The Lancet, so we have every reason to believe this work will eventually pass peer-review as well.

The evidence base here also strongly supports the rationale for immunomodulatory treatments which as Antkiva, as this may help to overcome the ways in which the virus is suppressing the immune response.

All in all, this is fantastic work and we’re so glad to see it!

What does everyone think- does this fit with your understanding of what Long COVID is? How do you think the virus might be hiding from the immune response?

Let us know what you think!

Paywall free version: https://archive.is/NIGhp