Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
06:54
A Time-Efficient Fluorescence Spectroscopy-Based Assay for Evaluating Actin Polymerization Status in Rodent and Human Brain Tissues
Published on: June 3, 2021
4.3K
How COVID-19 Hijacks the Cytoskeleton: Therapeutic Implications
Maral Aminpour1, Stuart Hameroff2,3,4, Jack A Tuszynski5,6
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 24, 2022
Summary
The SARS-CoV-2 virus hijacks host cell microtubules for replication and spread, causing COVID-19 pathology. Targeting host microtubules and the microtubule-organizing center offers a novel therapeutic strategy.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- SARS-CoV-2 infection disrupts host cell functions by co-opting the microtubule cytoskeleton.
- Viral hijacking of microtubules facilitates intracellular trafficking, cell-to-cell spread, and immune dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the host cell's microtubule-organizing center.
- To propose novel therapeutic strategies targeting host cell components crucial for viral replication.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of viral-host cell interactions at the molecular level, focusing on the microtubule cytoskeleton.
- Exploration of potential therapeutic interventions targeting microtubules and the microtubule-organizing center.
Main Results:
- SARS-CoV-2 may dock within the microtubule-organizing center's centrioles, utilizing interactions between viral spike proteins and microtubule C-termini.
- This interaction enables viral replication, cell spread, and immune dysregulation.
Conclusions:
- Therapies targeting host cell microtubules and the microtubule-organizing center are a promising alternative for COVID-19 treatment.
- Potential therapies include anti-microtubule drugs or low-intensity ultrasound applied to the vagus nerve or spleen.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria
2.9K
Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a...
2.9K
01:12Adaptability of Cytoskeletal Filaments
3.8K
The cytoskeleton is a complex dynamic structure performing varied functions based on cellular requirements. The adaptability of the individual filaments in the cytoskeleton determines their ability to perform various functions within the cell. It can undergo rapid reorganization during processes like cell division or remain stable for several hours as in the interphase. The adaptability of these filaments depends on stringent regulatory mechanisms. The microfilament and microtubules of the...
3.8K
01:17Studying the Cytoskeleton
6.5K
The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...
6.5K
01:45Destabilization of Microtubules
2.8K
The destabilization of microtubules can occur during different stages of the microtubule lifecycle, such as nucleation or elongation. It can take place at either end of the microtubule or in the microtubule lattices as a whole. The lifespan of individual microtubules within a cell varies according to the cell type and stage of the cell cycle. During interphase, the lifespan of the microtubule is about 30 minutes, while during cell division, it is about 15 minutes. In axonal microtubules of...
2.8K
01:18Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments
21.4K
Cytoskeletal filaments are polymeric forms of smaller protein subunits. However, individual cytoskeletal filaments may easily disassemble or associate with other similar filaments to form rigid structures. Microfilaments, made of actin monomers, rely on actin-binding proteins to form bundles and create networks of individual actin filaments. Microtubules rely on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to form sturdy cylindrical structures. However, the proteins involved in forming complex...
21.4K
01:32Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
4.9K
A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker...
4.9K