A second pathway into cells for SARS-CoV-2: New understanding of the neuropilin-1 protein could speed vaccine research

Using a technique called X-ray crystallography, which allows researchers to see the three-dimensional structure of the Spike protein at a resolution of individual atoms, as well as other biochemical approaches, James L. Daly of the University of Bristol and colleagues showed that this short sequence...

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Published in:	The Conversation : Science + Technology 2020-10-23
Main Authors:	Khanna, Rajesh, Aubin Moutal
Format:	Newspaper Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Coronaviruses COVID-19 Crystallography Dance Disease transmission Medical research Nose Pain Proteins Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Teams Vaccines Viral diseases Viruses
Online Access:	Request full text
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Summary:	Using a technique called X-ray crystallography, which allows researchers to see the three-dimensional structure of the Spike protein at a resolution of individual atoms, as well as other biochemical approaches, James L. Daly of the University of Bristol and colleagues showed that this short sequence from Spike attached to neuropilin-1. [...]cells lining the nasal passages from COVID-19 patients that were positive for neuropilin-1 were also positive for the Spike protein. Perhaps the most important implication is that the neuropilin-1 binding region of Spike should be targeted for COVID-19 prevention. Because a number of other human viruses, including Ebola, HIV-1 and highly virulent strains of avian influenza, also share this signature sequence of Spike, neuropilin-1 may be a promiscuous mediator of viral entry.