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US study highlights that disrupting this protective shield significantly reduces the virus’s ability to spread, which could be key to developing more effective antiviral treatments
The research reveals that SARS-CoV-2 is not just an invading pathogen but a sophisticated entity that actively protects itself during the infection process. Representational image
Scientists from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Chicago have made a significant breakthrough in understanding SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19. Their collaborative efforts have identified a crucial self-protective mechanism that the virus uses within the human body, enabling it to replicate effectively and infect more cells.
The study highlights that disrupting this protective shield significantly reduces the virus’s ability to spread, emphasising its critical role in viral propagation.
The research reveals that SARS-CoV-2 is not just an invading pathogen but a sophisticated entity that actively protects itself during the infection process. This newly discovered mechanism allows the virus to survive and multiply within host cells, bypassing the body’s natural defences.
Scientists observed a direct correlation: interference with this shielding process led to a significant drop in the viral infection rate. This finding, published in the journal Nature Communications, strongly suggests that understanding and potentially targeting this protective strategy could be key to developing more effective antiviral treatments.
While the initial report does not delve into the specific molecular or cellular details of how this mechanism operates, its identification marks a pivotal moment in Covid-19 research. Scientists emphasise its profound importance in deciphering the intricate ways the virus spreads at a cellular level. Unravelling this protective shield could open new avenues for therapeutic intervention, potentially leading to drugs that disarm the virus’s ability to protect itself, thereby limiting its replication and spread within an infected individual.
This discovery holds promise for a more targeted approach to combating Covid-19. By understanding the virus’s internal defences, researchers can work towards developing antiviral therapies that specifically dismantle this protective mechanism, rather than relying solely on broad-spectrum approaches.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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