Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein‐binding proteins expressed by upper respiratory tract bacteria may prevent severe viral infection

2020; Wiley; Volume: 594; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/1873-3468.13845

1873-3468

Kourosh Honarmand Ebrahimi,

Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a major global challenge. The virus infects host cells using its spike glycoprotein (S-protein) and has significantly higher infectivity and mortality rates among the aged population. Here, based on bioinformatic analysis, I provide evidence that some members of the upper respiratory tract (URT) commensal bacteria express viral S-protein -binding proteins. Based on this analysis and available data showing a decline in the population of these bacteria in the elderly, I propose that some URT commensal bacteria hamper SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and that a decline in the population of these bacteria contributes to the severity of infection. Further studies should provide a better understanding of the interaction of URT bacteria and SARS-CoV-2, which may lead to new therapeutic approaches.