Cases of the Corona COVID-19 virus throughout the world, until Sunday (3/15/2020), have reached 156,396, with 73,966 patients recovering. While the global death toll from the Corona COVID-19 virus, there were 5,833 people.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers explored what made this virus spread easily throughout the world. Numerous genetic and structural analyzes have identified a key feature of the virus - protein on its surface - which might explain why COVID-19 infects human cells so easily.
Another group is investigating through which door this new type of Corona Virus penetrates human tissue-receptors on cell membranes. Both cell receptors and viral proteins offer potential targets for drugs to block pathogens, but researchers say it is still too early to be ascertained.
"Understanding the transmission of the virus is the key to limitation and prevention in the future," said David Veesler, a structural virologist at the University of Washington in Seattle, as quoted by the Nature page.
COVID-19 is spread far more easily than other Corona Virus causes SARS. The following explanation was found by the researchers:
1. Spiny Invaders
Virus illustration. (Source Pixabay)
To infect cells, the new Corona Virus uses a 'needle' protein that binds to the cell membrane, a process that is activated by certain cell enzymes. Genome analysis of this virus revealed a surge of different proteins from close relatives, and showed that the protein had a place on it that was activated by a host cell enzyme called furin.
This is important because furin is found in many human tissues, including the lungs, liver and small intestine, which means the virus has the potential to attack many organs, said Li Hua, a structural biologist at Wuhan Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China.
This finding could explain some of the symptoms observed in people with Corona Virus, such as liver failure, said Li, who co-authored viral genetic analysis uploaded to ChinaXiv's preprinted server on February 23. SARS and other Corona Viruses in the same genus as the new virus do not have furin activation sites, he said.
Cornell University virus expert Gary Whittaker said the site of furin activation "places the virus very differently for SARS in terms of its entry into cells, and may affect the stability of the virus and transmission," he explained. His team published another structural analysis of the surge in corona virus protein at bioRxiv on February 18.
Several other groups have also identified a place of activation that allows the virus to spread efficiently among humans.
2. 10 Times Stronger
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Illustration of mers 5 virus (Liputan6.com/M.Iqbal)
Li's team also looked at molecules that could block furin, which could be investigated as possible therapies. But research is plagued by widespread outbreaks. Li lives on campus and is currently the only member who can access his team's laboratory.
The McLellan group in Texas has identified other features that can explain why the new corona virus is so successful at infecting human cells. Their experiments have shown that protein surges are bound to receptors in human cells - known as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) - at least ten times stronger than protein surges in the SARS virus.
Veesler's team also found a surge of bound proteins with high affinity for the ACE2 receptor, which showed the receptor was another potential target for vaccines or therapy. For example, drugs that block receptors might make it harder for corona viruses to penetrate cells.
3. Unpredictable
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Virus Illustration | unsplash.com/@cdc
But some researchers are cautious about how the place or site of activation plays a role in promoting the spread of the corona virus more easily.
"We don't know whether this will be a big problem or not," said Jason McLellan, a structural biologist at the University of Texas.
Whittaker said studies in cell or animal models were needed to test the function of the activation site.
"Corona viruses are unpredictable, and good hypotheses often turn out to be wrong," he said.
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