Protein discovered that blocks Covid-19 infection in the lungs – “Glues” to the virus and removes it from the cells

Scientists in Australia, UK and US discover protein in lungs that blocks infection Covid-19 and forms a natural protective barrier against the coronavirus in the body. It is estimated that not all people have the protein in question to the same extent, which may play a role in how badly someone gets sick with Covid-19

THE protein by name LRRC15 is an integrated receptor that binds the SARS-CoV-2 virus, preventing it from spreading and infecting other cells.

The unexpected discovery opens up a whole new field of immunological research and potentially opens up possibilities for the development of new drugs to prevent infection by this virus and others. However, it will take years until such a thing becomes a reality.

The University of Sydney researchers, led by genomics professor Greg Neely, as well as Oxford and Yale universities, who made the relevant publication in the biology journal “PLoS Biology”, confirmed the protein’s action in three independent studies.

“We think it acts kind of like (adhesive tape) Velcro, like molecular Velcrowhich attaches to the virus and then removes it from its target cells,” said postdoctoral researcher Lipin Lu.

“For me as an immunologist, the fact that there is this natural immune receptor that we didn’t know about until now that coats our lungs, blocking and controlling the coronavirus, is incredibly interesting. We can now use this new receptor to design broad-spectrum drugs that will block viral infection or even suppress lung fibrosis,” said Dr Neely.

The coronavirus infects humans by using its spike protein to bind to a specific receptor on human cells, the protein (enzyme) ACE2. Lung cells have high levels of ACE2 receptors, which explains why the coronavirus often causes serious problems in patients’ lungs.

As with the ACE2 receptor, LRRC15 is a receptor for the coronavirus, but it does not support infection. Instead, it “binds” and immobilizes the virus, thereby preventing it from infecting other vulnerable cells. The LRRC15 protein is present in many parts of the body, such as lungs, skin, tongue, placenta, lymph nodes, etc.

The British study found that people with more severe Covid-19 had lower levels of LRRC15 in their blood than those with milder disease. Therefore, people with lower levels of this protein are more likely to get sick more seriously from Covid-19, while the opposite is true for those who have high levels of LRRC15 in their body, and thus a better natural defense against the virus.

RES-EMP

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