Monday, December 16, 2024
spot_img

This human molecule is helping Covid virus escape antibodies

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) A natural molecule called biliverdin present in human body is helping SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, escape antibodies – a discovery that can help explain why some Covid patients become severely ill despite having high levels of antibodies against the virus, report researchers.

When SARS-CoV-2 infects a patient’s lungs, it damages blood vessels and causes a rise in the number of immune cells.

“Both of these effects may contribute to increasing the levels of biliverdin and bilirubin in the surrounding tissues. And with more of these molecules available, the virus has more opportunity to hide from certain antibodies,” said Annachiara Rosa, first study author at the Francis Crick Institute in the UK.

“This is a really striking process, as the virus may be benefiting from a side-effect of the damage it has already caused,” Rosa said in the paper published in the journal Science Advances.

In their research, teams from the Francis Crick Institute, in collaboration with researchers at Imperial College London, Kings College London and UCL (University College London), found that biliverdin and bilirubin, natural molecules present in the body, can suppress the binding of antibodies to the coronavirus spike.

As vaccines are rolled out globally, understanding immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and also how the virus evades antibodies is critically important.

The ability of the immune system to control the infection and the quality of the antibody response are highly variable, and not well correlated, between individuals.

The scientists discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein strongly binds to biliverdin, a molecule which was giving these proteins an unusual green colouration.

They found that biliverdin attaches to the spike N-terminal domain and stabilises it so that the spike is not able to open up and expose parts of its structure. This means that some antibodies are not able to access their target sites and so cannot bind to and neutralise the virus.

In the first months of the pandemic, scientists were extremely busy churning out viral antigens for SARS-CoV-2 tests.

“It was a race, as these tests were urgently needed. When we finally found the time to study our green proteins, we expected a mundane answer. Instead, we were astonished to discover a new trick the virus uses to avoid antibody recognition,” explained Peter Cherepanov, author and a group leader of the Chromatin structure and mobile DNA Laboratory at the Crick.

The researchers are now exploring if it is possible to hijack the binding site used by biliverdin to potentially find new ways to target the virus.

spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

Will end naxalism in Chhattisgarh by March 2026: Amit Shah

Raipur, Dec 15: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday reiterated the government’s resolve to rid Chhattisgarh of...

Hindu leaders demand apology from Rahul Gandhi on Dronacharya-Eklavya remark

New Delhi, Dec 15 : As Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi compared the actions...

Parliamentarians unite over cricket match, raise awareness about eradicating TB by 2025

New Delhi, Dec 15 : In a unique blend of sports and social awareness, political leaders from both...

Armstrong murder case: 23 accused shifted to Puzhal central prison for security reasons

Chennai, Dec 15: The Tamil Nadu Prison Department shifted 23 people, accused of the murder of BSP state...