The Crucial Role of Occludin Protein in COVID-19 Transmission Unveiled

Scientists Uncover the Significance of Occludin Protein in COVID-19 Transmission

A team of researchers from the University of Missouri has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the spread of the coronavirus within the body. Led by Wenjun Ma, the team has identified the occludin protein as a key player in the transmission of the virus from one cell to another. Their findings highlight the impact of compromised occludin protein on viral replication and the subsequent spread to neighboring cells, potentially worsening the infection and associated symptoms.

University of Missouri Study Reveals Occludin Protein’s Critical Role in Coronavirus Propagation

A crucial revelation has emerged from the scientific community at the University of Missouri, shedding light on the role played by the occludin protein within human cells in the transmission of COVID-19. The virus’s ability to compromise this protein leads to rapid viral replication and subsequent dissemination, thus identifying potential targets for future antiviral medications.

Amidst the ongoing global spread of the coronavirus, a research team at the University of Missouri has successfully identified a specific protein within the human body that plays a vital role in the intercellular transmission of the virus post-infection. This discovery not only deepens our understanding of COVID-19 but also paves the way for the development of novel antiviral drugs.

The study provides valuable insights into the occludin protein, acting as a mediator for cell-to-cell transmission of the virus.

“Despite the various mitigation strategies implemented since the start of the pandemic, including vaccines and antiviral drugs, our ability to control the spread of this disease effectively remains a challenge. People continue to be infected daily, including those who have been vaccinated and previously exposed to the virus,” explained Wenjun Ma, the lead author of the study and an associate professor at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and the MU School of Medicine. “Conducting fundamental scientific research of this nature is crucial to comprehending the underlying mechanisms of disease progression within cells. This knowledge will aid in the identification and development of appropriate countermeasures.”

Ma and his team conducted extensive analyses of cell samples at the MU Laboratory for Infectious Disease Research to investigate how the coronavirus disseminates throughout cells. This laboratory serves as a critical resource for MU faculty and collaborating scientists engaged in infectious disease research, contributing to safeguarding public health in the United States and globally.

Their findings demonstrate that when the occludin protein in a single cell is compromised by the coronavirus, the virus undergoes rapid replication and spreads to nearby cells throughout the body, intensifying the infection and potentially leading to more severe symptoms.

Ma emphasized that this newfound knowledge could assist antiviral drug developers in exploring the impact of their medications on fortifying the occludin protein against viral infection.

“Whether we are studying the initial virus entry into cells or the replication process, this fundamental scientific research helps us delve deeper into disease progression,” Ma stated. “We have discovered that the virus may start by infecting a single cell, but cells are remarkably intricate. When the occludin protein becomes damaged, the virus swiftly replicates and spreads to neighboring cells. For instance, if only one lung cell is initially infected, it may not significantly impair breathing. However, once the virus spreads to neighboring lung cells, it can cause breathing difficulties and other respiratory problems.”

Ma intends to further investigate if other viral infections also affect the occludin protein, aiming to enhance our understanding of how viruses interact with host cells at the cellular level.

The study, titled “Tight junction protein occludin is an internalization factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection and mediates virus cell-to-cell transmission,” was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchwas funded by the University of Missouri start-up fund, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers of Excellence in Influenza Research and Response, the Kansas University Medical Center, and the Peachtree Collaborative Orthomolecular Medicine, Education, and Research Foundation. The study’s co-authors include Jialin Zhang, Wenyu Yang, Sawrab Roy, Heidi Liu, R. Michael Roberts, Liping Wang, and Lei Shi.

Reference:
Zhang, J., Yang, W., Roy, S., Liu, H., Roberts, R.M., Wang, L., Shi, L., & Ma, W. (2023). Tight junction protein occludin is an internalization factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection and mediates virus cell-to-cell transmission. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218623120. Funding: NIH/National Institutes of Health.

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More about occludin protein

• University of Missouri: Link to University of Missouri website
• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Link to the study
• National Institutes of Health (NIH): Link to NIH website
• Centers of Excellence in Influenza Research and Response: Link to Centers of Excellence information
• Kansas University Medical Center: Link to Kansas University Medical Center website
• Peachtree Collaborative Orthomolecular Medicine, Education, and Research Foundation: Link to Peachtree Collaborative website