Oct 28, 2020 15:00:00

Researchers say that coronavirus is a 'master of mimicry' that mimics more than 150 proteins

It is known that there are

mimicry organisms in nature that imitate other organisms and surrounding colors, but viruses also imitate proteins in the host's body to deceive the host's immune system. Among them, a new study found that coronavirus is particularly superior in mimicry compared to other viruses. This discovery also confirms the cause of the aggravation of some patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (COVID-19) .

A Sweep of Earth's Virome Reveals Host-Guided Viral Protein Structural Mimicry and Points to Determinants of Human Disease: Cell Systems
https://www.cell.com/cell-systems/fulltext/S2405-4712 (20) 30363-X

Coronaviruses are masters of mimicry, new study finds
https://phys.org/news/2020-10-coronaviruses-masters-mimicry.html

Now, a research team led by virologist Sagi Shapira of Columbia University Medical Center has discovered that coronaviruses have excellent properties that mimic human proteins. 'By identifying the proteins that the virus uses to disrupt the host's immune system, we can elucidate the mechanism by which pathogens, including the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) , cause infections,' said Shapira and colleagues. We investigated the structure of the proteins of 7486 viruses that infect 4045 organisms such as bacteria, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates.

by

Zwitterio Cromenale

Then, when the structures of 337,493 types of viral proteins found as a result of the investigation were collated with databases such as the Protein Data Bank, which accumulates the three-dimensional structure of biomolecules, more than 6 million examples of structural imitation were found. It was confirmed that it was there.

Shapira commented on the discovery of so many cases of virus mimicry: 'Mimicry was a more prevalent strategy among viruses than we could have imagined. Virus genome size, virus All types of viruses use this strategy, regardless of how it is replicated and what creatures the virus infects. '

Among the viruses, coronavirus was particularly excellent in mimicry, and it was found that multiple types of coronavirus share a total of 158 types of mimicking proteins. Among the proteins that the coronavirus mimics were proteins that control blood coagulation in the human body and proteins called complement that make up the immune system.

Previous studies, in patients with COVID-19 may be a problem related to coagulation of blood can be seen found in addition that, activation and the relationship of the 'complement macular degeneration people with is, COVID-19 also the fact that in a high risk of death, ' I know .

Regarding the relationship between the coronavirus mimicry confirmed this time and the symptoms of COVID-19, Shapira said, 'By mimicking the complement that coronavirus controls immunity in the body and the protein related to blood coagulation, I suspected that these systems could be overactive and cause the pathology found in COVID-19 patients. '

'The virus has already found a way to trick the host into using it. By studying these viruses, we can see how they disrupt cell homeostasis and cause disease. It is possible, and it is hoped that one day we will be able to use this knowledge to fight back the virus. '