COVID happens in two stages:
- viral infection
- inflammatory phase, where the body takes over, and sometimes harms itself. It seems that people are not generally contagious at this point?
This distinction is one of the reasons why separating the virus name (SARS-CoV-2) from the disease makes sense: the disease is much broader than the viral infection.
Why is it there such a clear separation of phases?
Why do people with mild symptoms go on to die? It is a great mystery.
Ciro Santilli's theory is that COVID is extremely effective at avoiding immune response. Then, in people where this is effective, things reach a point where there is so much virus, that the body notices and moves on to take a more drastic approach. This is compatible with the virus killing older people more, as they have weaker immunes systems. This is however incompatible with the fact that people don't seem to be contagious after the viral phase is over...
There are a few possibilities:
- genetics
- bibliography:
- www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abj7521 Identification of driver genes for critical forms of COVID-19 in a deeply phenotyped young patient cohort by Carapito et al. (2021)
- bibliography:
- state of the immune system based on disease history
- age
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DxlkxA82FM COVID-19 Symposium: Entry of Coronavirus into Cells | Dr. Paul Bates
Model of Membrane Fusion by SARS CoV-2 Spike Protein by clarafi (2020)
Source. Genes list: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/MN908947.3
Some are named after the encoded protein. Others that are not as clean are just orfXXX for open reading frame XXX.
Largest gene, polyprotein that contains SARS-CoV-2 non-structural proteins 1 to 11.
Envelope.
As shown at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16877062/#&gid=article-figures&pid=fig-3-uid-2 has transmembrane domain.
Membrane.
As shown at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16877062/#&gid=article-figures&pid=fig-3-uid-2 has transmembrane domain.
Spike.
Nucleocapsid phosphoprotein, sticks to the RNA inside.
www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20768-y mentions functions:
- helps pack the viral RNA into the capsule
- also has a side function in immune suppression
These are also required for test tube replication.
Mentioned at: cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/infectious-disease/know-novel-coronaviruss-29-proteins/98/web/2020/04
The RdRp, since this is a Positive-strand RNA virus.
Unlike SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein, these are not needed for test tube reproduction. They must therefore be for host modulation.
Integrates its RNA genome into the host genome.
- first RNA to DNA with reverse transcriptase
- then injects DNA into host genome with integrase
Sounds complicated! The advantage is likely as in HIV: once inside the cell, it can remain hidden far away from the cell surface, but still infections.
Converts RNA to DNA, i.e. the inverse of transcription. Found in viruses such as Retrovirus, which includes e.g. HIV.
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