New study reveals how SARS-CoV-2 evades immune response by hijacking key host proteins

Researchers from the Medical Universities of Vienna and Innsbruck have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 exploits three key host proteins that typically suppress the activity of the complement system—a crucial component of early antiviral immunity. This interference significantly hampers viral clearance, potentially affecting the progression of both acute COVID-19 infections and post-COVID-19 complications. The findings were recently published in Emerging Microbes & Infections. A prompt and effective immune response is essential to resolving viral infections and preventing post-infectious complications. The complement system, a vital part of antiviral immunity, is a cascade of proteins circulating in the bloodstream and present at mucosal sites, such as the respiratory tract. Activated through three pathways, it helps clear virus particles by triggering their destruction (lysis). To prevent collateral damage to host cells, complement activity is quickly regulated by specific host molecules called complement regulatory proteins. The new study, led by Anna Ohradanova-Repic at the Medical University of...