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IMAGE: This is a disguising machinery used by SARS-CoV-2, and the small green dot is a magnesium ion. view more
Credit: Yogesh Gupta, PhD, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO (June 2, 2021) Scientists from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have discovered a mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 exploits changes in metal ion concentrations to disguise itself in the body. Varying concentrations of metal ions positively charged atoms such as magnesium, manganese and calcium are observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. This is a newly described metal-dependent mechanism by which these ions help the virus to evade immune surveillance, said Yogesh Gupta, PhD, senior author of the research published June 2 in the journal