This is the best summary I could come up with:

Other researchers, meanwhile, are finding overlaps between long COVID and the persistent symptoms some people experience after other types of infections, from influenza to the common cold — suggesting there may be similar triggers for a wide range of little-understood conditions.

Two recent studies have tried to tease out long COVID biomarkers — traits in someone’s blood, tissues or bodily fluids that can be measured and tracked, at times offering signals of an infection or disease.

Their research suggests the release of interferons — a group of signalling proteins that cells send out as an alert system when there’s a viral threat — could drive the depletion of a key chemical messenger, serotonin.

“The million-dollar question is whether we can treat individuals or ameliorate their symptoms by targeting this pathway — either by restoring serotonin levels, through tryptophan supplementation or through the usage of SSRIs, or by eradicating their viral reservoir,” said Thaiss.

But the condition still impacts millions around the world — with a broad range of symptoms and severity — and many scientists say untold numbers of people likely suffered similar ailments after other types of viral or bacterial infections, long before COVID hit.

The research team analyzed data from more than 10,000 adults and found evidence of lingering health issues following influenza and common cold infections as well, with some symptoms that overlapped with long COVID and some distinct differences.

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