"Molecular biomimicry by the SARS-CoV-2 virus: consequences for severe inflammation, coagulation, and cross-infection"
The two most salient features of COVID-19 are its high infectivity, and its lethality for a significant human subpopulation. The lethal pathologies include 1) amplified forms of inflammation (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), cytokine storms, septic shock) and 2) dysregulated forms of coagulation (severe blood clots that lead to cardiac events, multi system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)). By combining machine learning, synchrotron structural studies, computer simulations, in vitro cell based experiments, in vivo mouse experiments, and analysis of human COVID patient samples, we show how SARS-CoV-2 can potentially precipitate these outcomes, via a novel form of biomimicry that results in grossly distorted immune responses, coagulation pathologies, and suppression of type I interferon-based antiviral defenses, whereas other non-pandemic coronaviruses cannot. We will discuss implications for future surveillance of potential pandemic viruses.
