Scientists from three countries evaluated the ability of COVID-19 to activate a retrovirus in cells

The spike protein (S-protein) of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is able to activate the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) gene in blood cells, which can subsequently lead to the development of chronic diseases. This conclusion was made by scientists from Spain, France and Mexico.

“I don’t have data whether COVID-19 really activates HERV-W in immune T cells and microglial cells of the brain and is found in serum and blood plasma,” commented on the experts’ conclusions in an interview with RBC, a professor of virology, chief researcher at the Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after Gamaleya Anatoly Altshtein.

According to him, coronaviruses can act on any genes, but this does not mean that the coronavirus enters the genetic system and becomes part of it. “It’s just that when an infection comes into the body, it can affect many functions of the body. Including – on the function of genes. This is an interesting thing that is being studied, but does not speak of a threat to humans, does not indicate that it is somehow dangerous for us, ”the specialist noted.

For his part, virologist, professor at Moscow State University, Doctor of Biology Alexei Agranovsky pointed out that the coronavirus replicates in the cytoplasm, it does not integrate into the DNA of the host cells. “The DNA of human cells contains a significant amount of foreign inserts, including pieces of the genome of retroviruses (and retroviruses are able to integrate a DNA copy of their genome into the host’s chromosomes). There is nothing new and terrible in this, such inserts are the result of ancient evolutionary events, and humanity calmly exists with them, ”he explained.