BERITABETA.COM – Corona virus (Covid-19) is still a big mystery in the world of health. Its camouflaged nature by mutating causes a virus that was originally known to cause respiratory tract infections, later it causes various complications by targeting other organs of the body.
What caused it? Researchers from the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University reveal the reasons behind this condition.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is considered highly adept at mimicking human immune proteins.
The results of this research have been published online in Cell Systems. The researchers stated that the Corona virus has the ability to mimicry, aka camouflage it in order to deceive predators or predators, in this case, to trick the human immune system.
“Viruses use mimicry for the same reasons as plants and animals, to deceive. We hypothesized that by identifying similar proteins, it would provide clues about how viruses cause disease, “said Assistant Professor of Systems Biology, Sagi Shapira, Ph.D.
Shapira said, all viruses actually have the ability of mimicry like this. This trait is used by all types of viruses, regardless of the size of the viral genome.
“How to replicate or whether the virus infects bacteria, plants, insects or humans,” said Shapira, quoted from Phys, Wednesday (28/10/2020).
Shapira explained, several types of viruses such as Retrovirus and Papilloma do not really like this kind of mimicry strategy. However, the Corona virus is very active in using it, and is even said to be able to mimic more than 150 proteins.
These include proteins that control blood clotting and trigger inflammation in the body.
“We thought that by mimicking the body’s immune and coagulation complement proteins, the Coronavirus could push this system into a hyperactive state and cause the pathology we see in infected patients,” explained Shapira.
This situation has to do with the severity of the COVID-19 patient. Because it is known they are not experiencing complications due to the virus, but due to an excessive immune reaction.
According to him, these findings show that the Corona virus cannot be underestimated.
“Viruses have found ways to exploit their hosts,” concluded Shapira (BB-DIO)
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