The health crisis we are currently going through is caused by a new virus. But the family to which she belongs has been known for almost two decades. In a new study, scientists provide evidence explaining why SARS-CoV-2 is more virulent than other coronaviruses that preceded it.
- Protein allows SARS-CoV-2 to enter human cells faster
- We find this key in other viruses such as Ebola or HIV
As explained by Ravi Ojha, virologist and co-author of the study, thehe starting point of this research was to find out why the SARS-CoV (coronavirus causing an epidemic in 2003) is less virulent than SARS-CoV-2 (English acronym used to name the virus responsible for Covid-19), while the two viruses have the same main receptor (ACE2).
To answer this question, scientists studied the SARS-CoV-2 genome. According to the results, published in the journal ScienceSARS-CoV-2 has acquired a “key” allowing it to enter human cells more quickly.
A protein also present in HIV or Ebola
For Ravu Ojha, it is precisely this pass that would explain why the pandemic linked to Covid-19 is proving to be much more important than that of SARS observed in 2003. This key responds to the name of “neurophilic transmembrane protein 1″ (PNR1), which it is also found in other viruses that are extremely difficult to eradicate, such as HIV or Ebola, the study notes.
“Pathological analysis of autopsies of human Covid-19 patients revealed that cells infected with CoV-2-SARS, including olfactory neuron cells directed to the nasal cavity, were positive for PNR1. Our data provide insight of the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 cells and define a potential target for antiviral intervention”, conclude the authors of the work.
.