A new study reveals a coronavirus infection can alter the DNA leading to long covid. Read to know more about the study.
DNA alteration may lead to long covid
A recent study published in Nature Microbiology revealed that people infected with SARS-CoV-2 might experience genomic changes which explain the immunity risk from long covid. As per the study, coronavirus attacks the chromatin structure. Chromatin is the house for genetic materials in our cells. Research reveals that some viruses have the ability of hijacking or change our chromatin. This allows them to replicate in our cells. “We found that many well-formed chromatin architectures of a normal cell become de-organized after infection,” stated Wenbo Li. Li is a senior author of the study and an associate professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.
The study revealed that A/B chromatin components “can be analogous to the yin and yang portions of our chromatin”. However, following SARS-CoV-2 infection the yin and yang portions lose “normal shapes and start to mix.” Additionally, the study revealed both the shape and chemical composition of the chromatin may be altered.
More on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection
According to the study, the changes in “chemical modifications of chromatin were known to exert long-term effects on gene expression and phenotypes.” Hence, this study may share an “unrealized new perspective to understand the viral impacts on host chromatin that can associate with long Covid.”
The study suggests that the mixing of chromatin may lead to key genes such as interleukin-6 changing. Interleukin-6 is a vital gene that plays a major role in inflammation. Hence, it can lead to a cytokine storm in people suffering from severe coronavirus infections. “This study elucidated to us how SARS-CoV-2 can uniquely alter our chromatin to cause COVID-19 symptoms. Future work will focus on understanding the mechanisms of how SARS-CoV-2 can achieve this,” explained Li.