Welp—might as well share this on a Monday: Coronavirus-infected cells sprout tentacle-like filaments that may spread the virus. Tiny projections may serve as highways to new cells to infect like an underground tunnel. #COVID19 sciencenews.org/article/covid-…
2) To be clear— this is for within host expansion of infection. Nobody is actually sprouting tentacles to infect your neighbor like an 🐙.
The extensions “are highways for transport,” says Robert Grosse, a cell biologist at the University of Freiburg in Germany
The extensions “are highways for transport,” says Robert Grosse, a cell biologist at the University of Freiburg in Germany
3) Other viruses, including SARS-1, also can cause cells to sprout filopodia. Some viruses travel along filopodia of infected cells and may use the structures to move directly from one cell to another.
➡️ Why important? this type of tunnel evades antibody detection and attack.
➡️ Why important? this type of tunnel evades antibody detection and attack.
4) Our bodies can ultimately stop cellular infection via other ways and other drugs. But this cell to neighboring cell direct tunnel avoid the bloodstream as a pathway. This can also be a target of future drugs too.
5) As @michaelmina_lab points out, this isn’t the most unique— many viruses do this to keep expanding and replicating. Viruses are cunning critters.
