Filenews 29 April 2021
Coronavirus can differentiate human genes, which largely explains why many patients, while recovering from Covid-19 disease, continue to experience various symptoms after several months.
These symptoms include skin problems and shortness of breath, to anosmia. Now, researchers say they know why this might be the case.
A new study suggests that coronavirus may be causing long-term changes in the genes of a patient infected with the disease. Specifically, the scientists found that the protein spike of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19 disease, creates long-term changes in the "expression" of the human gene. These tiny pins cover the surface of coronavirus cells allowing the virus to penetrate certain human cell receptors by infecting the person with Covid-19 disease.
"We found that the virus's exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein alone was enough to change the initial "expression" of the gene in airway cells," Nicholas Evans, a graduate student at the Texas University Health Sciences Centre, explains in a press release. 'This suggests that the symptoms observed in patients may initially be due to the direct interaction of the protein with the cells.'
The researchers looked at how virus exposure to the protein spike can affect human cells in the airways during laboratory experiments. They also compared the results with studies from cell samples of real patients with COVID-19 disease. The results showed differences in the expression of the gene that remained the virus in human cells even after the infection. The genes most affected include those that control the body's response to inflammation.
"Our work helps clarify the changes that are taking place in patients at the genetic level, which could ultimately provide information on which treatments would work best for specific patients," Explains Evans. The study authors are now focusing their research to examine how long these genetic changes last. They also hope to reveal other long-term effects that a COVID infection could have on a patient's health.
The team presented their findings in "Experimental Biology" (EB) 2021, in a conference call with the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Source: protothema.gr
