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With the Lung Biological Network in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers from the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) published a publication with their latest findings on the spread of the coronavirus. This was reported by the esanum medical network.
Their goal is to better understand the virus by examining human cells and to develop possible drugs or vaccines against Sars-CoV-2. With their previous research, they provide important results in the corona virus infection route on the one hand, and on the other hand show which organs are susceptible to damage from the virus.
Receptor protein study: that’s why Covid-19 spreads so fast
Studies have shown that goblet cells and ciliated epithelium in the nose contain a particularly large number of vulnerable receptor proteins that the coronavirus uses to penetrate our cells. These proteins can also be found in the eye and in other organs such as the heart. They then offer the virus good opportunities to infect them. These findings are important, among other things, to develop drugs that hinder the transmission of the virus.
SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects the lungs and respiratory tract. In the worst case, viruses can cause pneumonia and even lead to death. Many infected people have typical symptoms of a runny nose, such as a cough, fever, and sore throat, and for some the disease is asymptomatic. However, these people are contagious and transmit the virus mainly through the drops that arise when coughing or sneezing.
To develop a vaccine or medication for SARS-CoV-2, it is important to understand how this virus works. Scientists already knew that the corona virus infected our cells in a similar way to the SARS epidemic in 2003. The exact types of cells that are involved in the nose had not yet been precisely determined.
What cells are involved in the infection?
Therefore, the researchers analyzed several data sets from the Human Cell Atlas consortium that were obtained from single-cell RNA sequencing of more than 20 different tissues from uninfected people. These included cells from the lungs, nasal cavity, eye, intestine, heart, kidney, and liver. The researchers examined which of the individual cells have the two most important input proteins that the virus uses for infection.
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Dr. Waradon Sungnak, first author of the dated study The Wellcome Sanger Institute said: “The receptor protein, ACE2, and the TMPRSS2 protease, which can aid in the entry of SARS-CoV-2, are expressed in cells of various organs. Among them are cells inside the We have shown that of all cells, mucus-producing goblet cells and cilia in the nose have the highest concentrations of these two proteins. This makes these cells the most likely site of primary infection for the virus. “
Dr. Martijn Nawijn, from the University Hospital of Groningen in the Netherlands, told the HCA Pulmonary Biological Network: “These special cells in the nose have now been linked to COVID-19 for the first time. Of course, there are many factors that affect the transmissibility of the virus. But ours The results go well with the rapid rates of virus infection that have been observed to date. The location of these cells on the inner surface of the nose makes them easily accessible to the virus and can helping transmission to other people. “
The corona virus easily reaches the cells of the nose.
A route of infection through the eyes or lacrimal glands cannot be ruled out, as can fecal-oral transmission, because the two most important input proteins, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, can also be found in the corneal cells of the eye. and in the intestinal mucosa. Both have been observed in some patients.
When cells become damaged or fight infection, various immune genes are also activated. The study showed that production of the ACE2 receptor in nasal cells is likely to be activated simultaneously with these other immunogens.
Up to 20 percent of crown patients treated in the hospital experience heart muscle damage or even heart failure. It is important to determine for the heart also the cells through which the virus can penetrate and damage the heart to consider possible treatments.
500,000 individual cells analyzed
“We analyzed more than 500,000 individual cells from 14 human hearts. We identified the cellular areas that express this portal of entry: These are pericytes, cells that belong to the heart’s fine capillary system, cardiac muscle cells, and fibroblasts that contribute to giving the heart its structure, “said Dr. Michela Noseda of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London.
Under the direction of Professor Norbert Hübner, who works at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), among others, and Jonathan Seidman, Bugher Professor of Cardiovascular Genetics at Harvard Medical School, 13 scientists from Germany, Great Britain and The United States is investigating Use every cell of the human heart. Michela Noseda and Sarah Teichmann also belong to this group.
“We found the ACE2 receptor primarily in the pericytes. The receptor probably plays a key role in maintaining blood flow in the body. However, its role in the heart problems of COVID-19 patients is different. We don’t know yet. if the virus itself causes heart damage or if it’s side effects. “
Use the Human Cell Atlas to understand COVID-19
Dr. Sarah Teichmann, lead author of the Wellcome Sanger Institute study and co-chair of the HCA organizing committee, added: “While we are building the Atlas of Human Cells, it is already being used to understand COVID-19 and help cells. Identify those who are critical to initial infection and portability. This information can be used to better understand the spread of the coronavirus. Knowing the exact cell types that are important for virus transmission provides a basis for possible therapies to develop and reduce the spread of the virus. “
The global lung biology network HCA continues to work with the data to identify the cells that are involved in Covid-19 disease.
Professor Sir Jeremy Farrar, Wellcome’s director, concluded: “By determining the characteristics of each cell type, the Atlas of Human Cells helps scientists diagnose, control and treat diseases like COVID-19 in a whole new way. Researchers from around the world are working at an unprecedented rate to deepen our understanding of COVID-19, and this new work is a testament to this: cross-border collaboration and the open exchange of research results are critical to the rapid development of diagnostics, effective therapies and treatments. Vaccines and to make sure no country is left behind. “
You can find all the current developments in our Corona ticker.
(sh)
