PRAGYA SANTRA, AMITY UNIVERSITY
COVID-19 drastically hit 2020, an eye-witnessed pandemic for us all. Analysis from many patients suffering from COVID-19 the second time suggests that the immune system failed to ward off the second thrash of the virus. A recent study now puts light on the fact. Reports highlight that the coronavirus mutates itself masking in the form of HIV and other retroviruses integrating its genetic code into the patient’s chromosome but don’t become permanent genetic residence in the human cells. Though all viruses insert their genetic strain in the host cells but don’t incorporate them in the host’s DNA. Once the viruses successfully create maximum infection to the host, they go off.
For confirmation of the new research, PCR is performed. Specific virus sequences in fragmented form were detected in the biological samples of nasal swabs. For further assurance of whether the fragmented virus genome could replicate within the host cells, the researchers added reverse transcriptase (RT) (enzyme converting RNA into DNA) to human cells. They performed two types of experiments. In the first experiment RT gene from HIV was added and in the second RT using LINE-1 elements (remnants of previous retroviral infections with 17% of the human genome) are added. Cells preparing either form of the enzymes converted a few SARS-CoV-2 RNA to DNA incorporating them into the host chromosome. This can further lead to enhance the toxicity within the patient’s body but only if the full genome is replicated and is incorporated in the human chromosome, not the fragmented part. In such cases, even the host immune system fails to recognize the causative pathogens at times for being they are replicating in the host cell itself along with the human chromosomes.
This kind of integration is extremely rare. LINE-1 elements in human remain rarely active. Though still more new researches are in processing for more solid pieces of evidence. But if this phenomenon becomes true then many patients will go unrecognized even by PCR analysis which will mislead the COVID treatment.
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SOURCE: The coronavirus may sometimes slip its genetic material into human chromosomes—but what does that mean; Jon Cohen; Health Science; Dec. 16, 2020; doi:http://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg2000
SARS-CoV-2 RNA reverse-transcribed and integrated into the human genome; Liguo Zhang, Alexsia Richards et al; bioRxiv; 13 December 2020; Volume: 12, Issue: 12 Pg. no: 422516; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.12.422516
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