There are several things we do not understand about the virus that causes the Covid-19 sickness. One of our most critical knowledge gaps is how it enters a host’s body. The Scientist journal reported ground-breaking news on April 29, 2020. According to latest research, we have more potential receptors for SARS-CoV-2 than we may have imagined.
The Scattered Receptors for SARS-CoV-2 Are All Over Our Bodies
We already know we have two proteins, namely ACE2 and TMPRSS2 that help the virus create new cells. The researchers used existing gene expression datasets to find out where these proteins exist. They found our potential receptors for SARS-CoV-2 are in many different places. These likely cells include our bladders, hearts, kidneys, noses, pancreas, eyes and brain.
This is not just a virus influenza pneumonia, cardiologist Frank Ruschitzka at the University Hospital of Zürich says. We have never seen a disease like this before. It hits our bodies all over. It attacks many of our cells, and even strikes at our hearts.
However the Researchers Say These are Not All Sufficient Conditions
The presence of a receptor is a necessary condition for the infection, says report co-author Christoph Muus, a graduate student at Harvard University and Broad Institute. But the mere presence of a receptors for SARS-CoV-2 is not always a sufficient condition that guarantees virus entry. Other factors must be there too.
However, as Jeremy Kamil, virologist at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport explains the research does tell us where to look. The team discovered that smoking correlates with a greater expression of ACE2 in the upper airways. Although this is lower in certain lung cells.
We don’t yet know for sure whether smokers are more likely to catch the coronavirus. However, data from China suggests the likelihood of severe infections may be 14 times greater. Marta Gaglia, molecular biologist at Tufts University supports Christopher Muus’ position. She believes ‘the reality is most problems come from the lung’.
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