Scientists from the University of Sydney (Australia) have discovered a protein in the lungs that blocks the SARS-CoV-2 virus and forms a natural protective barrier in the human body.
This protein – LRRC15 – is an integrated receptor that binds the SARS-CoV-2 virus without passing the infection on, EurelAlert reports.
The study is said to offer a promising avenue for developing new drugs to prevent viral infection caused by coronaviruses like COVID-19 or to fight fibrosis in the lungs.
Together with two other groups, one from Oxford and the other from Brown and Yale universities in the US, we have discovered a new receptor in the LRRC15 protein that can stop SARS-CoV-2. We found that this new receptor acts by binding to and sequestering the virus, which reduces infection, the researchers note.
The COVID-19 virus infects humans with a spike protein that attaches to a specific receptor in our cells. To penetrate into human cells, it primarily uses the ACE2 protein. Lung cells have high levels of ACE2 receptors, so the COVID-19 virus often causes serious problems in this organ of infected people.
Like ACE2, LRRC15 is a receptor for the coronavirus, meaning the virus can bind to it. But unlike ACE2, LRRC15 does not contribute to the process of cell infection. Instead, it can stick to the virus and immobilize it, thus preventing other vulnerable cells from becoming infected.
That is, LRRC15 acts like a “molecular Velcro” – it sticks to the spike of the virus, and then pulls it away from target cells.
Essentially, the virus is covered by another part of the Velcro, and while it tries to get to the main receptor, it can get stuck in this LRRC15 mesh, the scientists note.
LRRC15 is present in many locations such as the lungs, skin, tongue, fibroblasts, placenta, and lymph nodes. But the researchers found that human lungs “glow” with LRRC15 after infection, in contrast to healthy people, where it is not noticeable in large numbers.
We believe this newly identified protein may be part of our body’s natural response to fight infection by creating a barrier that physically separates the virus from lung cells most susceptible to COVID-19.
Source: EurekAlert
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I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.