Virologists evaluate the ability of COVID to awaken a retrovirus in cells

Scientists from Spain and France reported that SARS-CoV-2 activates the human endogenous retrovirus gene in immune T cells. Virologists interviewed by RBC indicate that there is no evidence that CORONAVIRUS can “affect DNA”

Virologists interviewed by RBC evaluated the findings of scientists from France, Spain and Mexico that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus spike protein (S-protein) is able to activate the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) gene in blood cells, which can subsequently lead to the development of chronic diseases .

A preprint of their work was published on January 21 on the MedRxiv portal. During the experiments, the specialists added recombinant S-protein to the culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with SARS-CoV-2. Activation of the gene encoding the ENV protein, which is involved in the assembly of viral envelopes, was observed in 20-30% of patients. As noted by Phys.org, scientists have previously observed a correlation of ENV protein expression in T-lymphocytes with severe respiratory distress syndrome in patients with SARS-CoV-2, however, the exact mechanisms were not clear.

“I don’t have data on whether covid-19 really activates HERV-W in immune T cells and microglial cells of the brain and is found in serum and blood plasma,” Anatoly, professor of virology, chief researcher at the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, told RBC. Altstein.

Virologists called threats due to the circulation of several strains of COVID-19 Society

According to Altstein, human endogenous retroviruses contain RNA in the virion of the viral particle, and when they enter the cell, DNA is synthesized on the template of this RNA (DNA - “provirus”). “All this is integrated into the cellular genome. After that, RNA is synthesized on the DNA matrix of the provirus, which leads to the formation of viral proteins, virions. RNA in the virus, then DNA, then reverse RNA. As a result, the resulting virus contains RNA. This is how all retroviruses reproduce,” he explained.