Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025
05:23
Visualization of SARS-CoV-2 using Immuno RNA-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization
Published on: December 23, 2020
6.1K
Towards Understanding Long COVID: SARS-CoV-2 Strikes the Host Cell Nucleus
1Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 28, 2023
Summary
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) impacts multiple body systems and can affect the host cell nucleus. Viral components entering the nucleus may lead to genomic integration and chronic inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has demonstrated widespread effects beyond acute respiratory illness, including long-term sequelae (Long COVID) and multi-systemic involvement.
- Current understanding of SARS-CoV-2 replication traditionally focused on cytoplasmic processes, largely excluding nuclear interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent to which SARS-CoV-2 components interact with and potentially alter the host cell nucleus.
- To explore the implications of nuclear viral presence, including potential genomic integration and its consequences.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cumulative evidence on SARS-CoV-2 protein and RNA localization within host cells.
- Review of studies examining nuclear pore transport disruption by viral proteins.
- Examination of research on SARS-CoV-2 sequence retrotranscription and integration into the host genome.
Main Results:
- Multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins (Spike, Nucleocapsid, Nsp1, Nsp3, ORF3d, ORF6, ORF9a) and some viral RNA can enter the host cell nucleus via nuclear localization signals or protein shuttling.
- Evidence suggests SARS-CoV-2 sequences can be retrotranscribed and integrated into the host genome, forming chimeric genes.
- Expression of these chimeric proteins may lead to neo-antigen formation, autoimmunity, and chronic inflammation.
Conclusions:
- SARS-CoV-2 actively invades the host cell nucleus, challenging previous models of viral lytic cycles.
- Nuclear integration of viral genetic material presents a potential mechanism for persistent viral effects, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune responses post-infection.
Keywords:
NLSNspNucleocapsideORF9aSARS-CoV-2accessory proteinsnucleocytoplasmic shuttlingretrotranscriptionsgRNAspikeMore Related Videos
09:03Functional Imaging of Viral Transcription Factories Using 3D Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: January 18, 2018
7.1K
13:13Single-cell Quantitation of mRNA and Surface Protein Expression in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-infected CD4+ T Cells Isolated from Rhesus macaques
Published on: September 25, 2018
10.7K
Related Concept Videos
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
58
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
58
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
67
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
67
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
46.2K
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
46.2K
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
998
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
998
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
830
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
830
02:33Retroviruses
12.5K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
12.5K