SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that emerged late in 2019 and caused a global pandemic of respiratory illness. Although much is still unknown about this virus, we do know that it primarily infects cells in the airway, including macrophages. A new study has uncovered some of the mechanisms necessary for SARS-CoV-2 infection in macrophages.
Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that play an important role in the immune system. They are responsible for clearing out invading pathogens, such as viruses, from the body. In order to do this, they must first bind to the pathogen with specialised receptors on their surface. Once bound, the macrophage can internalise the pathogen and destroy it.
The new study, which was published in the journal Nature, found that SARS-CoV-2 uses two different receptors to infect macrophages. The first receptor is known as ACE2, which is the same receptor that the virus uses to infect human cells. The second receptor is called PAR-1, which is a receptor found on the surface of many types of cells, including macrophages.
The study found that both ACE2 and PAR-1 are necessary for SARS-CoV-2 infection of macrophages. However, the virus uses these receptors differently. ACE2 is primarily used for binding and entry of the virus into the cell. In contrast, PAR-1 appears to be necessary for the virus to be able to replicate inside the macrophage.
This study provides new insight into the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and may help to develop new strategies for treatment and prevention.
A new study has uncovered the mechanisms necessary for SARS-CoV-2 infection in macrophages, which are a type of white blood cell.
The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses a protein called ACE2 to infect macrophages. ACE2 is normally found on the surface of cells in the lungs, and is used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter and infect these cells.
Once inside the cell, the virus replication machinery takes over and the cell begins to produce new viruses. The study found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses a different mechanism to replicate in macrophages than it does in other cell types.
This research provides new insights into the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and may help to develop new treatments for the disease.
