A team of American scientists, led by a researcher of Indian origin, has identified a set of human genes that fight …
A team of American scientists, led by a researcher of Indian origin, has identified a set of human genes that fight infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. According to Sumit K. Chanda, professor and director of the immunity and pathogenesis program at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, scientists have gained new knowledge about how the virus exploits the human cells it invades. “We are still looking for his Achilles heel so that we can develop optimal antivirals,” Chanda said in an article published in the journal Molecular Cell. Knowing which genes help control viral infection can go a long way in helping researchers understand the factors that affect the severity of the disease and also suggest possible treatment options. The genes in question are linked to interferons, the body’s first-line viral fighters. Shortly after the onset of the pandemic, clinicians discovered that a weak interferon response to SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in some of the more severe cases of Covid-19.
This knowledge led Chanda and his colleagues to research human genes triggered by interferons, known as interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), which work to limit infection with SARS-CoV-2. “We found that 65 ISGs controlled the SARS-CoV-2 infection, including some that inhibited the ability of the virus to enter cells, some that suppressed the production of RNA which is the lifeblood of virus and a group of genes that inhibited virus assembly. ”Chanda explained.“ What was also of great interest was the fact that some of the ISGs showed control through unrelated viruses, such as seasonal influenza, West Nile and HIV, which leads to AIDS. ”The team also identified eight ISGs that inhibited both SARS-CoV-1 and CoV-2 replication in the subcellular compartment responsible for the packaging of the proteins, suggesting that this vulnerable site could be exploited to eliminate viral infection. “This is important information, but we still need to know more about the biology of the virus and investigate whether the genetic variability within these ISGs is related to with the severity of Covid-19, ”said Laura Martin-Sancho, senior postdoctoral associate at the Chanda lab. In a next step, the researchers will look at the biology of the variants of SARS-CoV-2 which continue to evolve and threaten the effectiveness of the vaccine.