Facing the Highly Mutated Variant BA.2.86: Strategies to Strengthen Your Innate Immunity and Guard Against Infection

Medical experts recommend increasing the intake of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients to boost immunity to fight the new variant.

JBArt/Shutterstock

Following EG.5, the latest highly mutated COVID-19 variant, BA.2.86 (also known as Pirola), is spreading in multiple countries. BA.2.86 is a subvariant of omicron, with over 35 genetic mutations on its spike protein, making it more capable of immune escape. Medical experts recommend increasing the intake of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients to boost immunity.

BA.2.86 was first discovered in Denmark in July, and it has since been detected in human or wastewater samples from the United States, Canada, Denmark, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and Thailand.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated at the end of August, approximately 97 percent of Americans have developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies due to prior infection, vaccination, or a combination. However, the significant number of mutations in BA.2.86 raises concerns about whether the immunity acquired from vaccines and previous infections is adequate to combat it.

Story continues below advertisement

According to the CDC, it is currently unclear whether the BA.2.86 variant will lead to more severe illness, but these highly diverged lineages may arise in immunocompromised individuals with prolonged infections.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the world has experienced multiple waves of pandemic peaks caused by virus strains like alpha, delta, and omicron. The various variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that have evolved continue to alter the virus’ transmissibility and pathogenicity, presenting challenges to medical treatment and prevention measures.

In August, the CDC stated that the existing tests used for COVID-19 detection and the medications used to treat the disease appear effective against BA.2.86. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are set to be released before the end of September, with the expectation of significantly reducing the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

However, will that be the case? A recent study analyzed the impact of vaccination and natural immunity on COVID-19 infection rates. The research team conducted this study with 96,201 male inmates across 33 California state prisons, analyzing their data from January to July 2023.

Story continues below advertisement

The research findings showed that the infection rate in the bivalent-vaccinated group was 3.24 percent, whereas the infection rate in the entirely unvaccinated group was 2.72 percent. When the data were filtered for individuals aged 50 and above, infection rates were 4.07 and 3.1 percent, respectively. Among individuals aged 65 and above, the bivalent-vaccinated group had an infection rate of 6.45 percent, higher than the 4.5 percent rate observed in the entirely unvaccinated group.

How Do We Deal With Evolving Variants?

In the face of the ongoing pandemic and vaccine efficacy uncertainty, enhancing our innate immunity is particularly crucial.

Innate immunity, much like our body’s guardian, continuously scans for harmful invaders and initiates the earliest response. It also coordinates the subsequent responses of the entire immune system until the viruses or bacteria threatening the body are eradicated.

Dr. Yuhong Dong, a European expert in virology and infectious diseases, explained on the Epoch Times’ Health 1+1 program that innate immunity refers to a coordinated defense against pathogens, encompassing layers from human skin to mucous membranes.

The tightly interconnected epithelial cells first detect viral particle components from the external environment, triggering the innate immune response and the secretion of interferons. Interferons disrupt viral replication and act as natural enemies to viruses. This step alone can defend against the virus for individuals with normal interferon function. If the virus penetrates deeper into the body, natural killer cells and various macrophages play a role in engulfing invading viruses and bacteria.

Story continues below advertisement

Dr. Dong pointed out that one can work on increasing the production level of interferons to boost the body’s antiviral immunity.

How to Boost Innate Immunity

So how can we boost our immune system? In a program, Dr. Jingduan Yang, a renowned expert in integrative and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the founder and medical director of the Yang Institute of Integrative Medicine, stated that vitamins C, D, E, beta carotene, and trace elements like selenium, iron, and zinc can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby strengthening the immune system.

A research review published in Molecules in 2020 indicated that supplementing with a combination of micronutrients, such as vitamins C and D and selenium, may help enhance the immune system, prevent viral transmission, and reduce the progression of diseases to severe stages.

The study mentioned that vitamin C can stimulate the production of antiviral cytokines alpha interferon and beta interferon (IFN-α/β) within the body. Vitamin D can reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and adequate vitamin D may prevent SARS-CoV-2 invasion by strengthening physical barriers and enhancing the production of antimicrobial peptides in lung epithelium. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, selenium supplementation can improve the function of cytotoxic effector cells, such as natural killer cells.

Dr. Yang also recommends curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory agent that can reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It can also alter the synthesis of these cytokines, contributing to the regulation of immune cells and gene expression.

Story continues below advertisement

Curcumin is one of the active components of the turmeric plant. A study from 2021 indicated that curcumin extract stimulates THP-1 macrophages to secrete cytokines, which in turn stimulates the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) by natural killer cells (NK-92). Since IFN-gamma is a key regulator of the human immune system, the results suggest the potential use of curcumin as an immune-boosting food.

Another study indicated that curcumin cooperates with various cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells, to modify the body’s defense capacity.

Dr. Yang also recommends increasing the intake of plant-based foods, especially those rich in phytonutrients, water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, dietary fiber, and antioxidants, while avoiding foods that may negatively impact or harm the immune system, such as added sugars, excessive salt, processed carbohydrates, and excessive saturated fats.

Additionally, he said that regular moderate-intensity exercise, such as high-intensity interval walking, can improve cardiovascular health, enhance innate immunity, and reduce the risk of inflammation and infections.