Researchers believe they have found another way the coronavirus gains entry into our cells. They discovered a receptor called neuropilin-1 gives the novel coronavirus a leg up in infecting our tissues. This particular protein is relatively abundant on cells lining the nasal cavity, making it a piece of cake for the virus to establish a home inside our bodies, raise a virus family, and then spread to a new host.
Source: Science Alert, October 23, 2020. Link.
Typically, < neuropilin-1> plays a role in responding to growth factors important in tissue development, especially among nerves. But to many viruses, it’s a convenient handle for holding onto host cells long enough to break in.
INSIGHTS: Acknowledging considerable naivety for this level of science, my mind went wandering off to the various respiratory issues we face in animal health beyond coronaviruses. Wouldn’t it be great if . . . ?