“ In the current understanding of what happens when a virus enters the brain , there are two outcomes – either cell death or inflammation . But we ’ ve shown a third possible outcome , which is neuronal fusion .”
COVID-19 Can Cause Brain Cells to ‘ Fuse ’
“ In the current understanding of what happens when a virus enters the brain , there are two outcomes – either cell death or inflammation . But we ’ ve shown a third possible outcome , which is neuronal fusion .”
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Researchers at The University of Queensland have discovered viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 can cause brain cells to fuse , initiating malfunctions that lead to chronic neurological symptoms .
Professor Massimo Hilliard and Dr Ramon Martinez-Marmol from the Queensland Brain Institute have explored how viruses alter the function of the nervous system .
SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 , has been detected in the brains of people with ‘ long COVID ’ months after their initial infection .
“ We discovered COVID-19 causes neurons to undergo a cell fusion process , which has not been seen before ,” Professor Hilliard said .
“ After neuronal infection with SARS-CoV- 2 , the spike S protein becomes present in neurons , and once neurons fuse , they don ’ t die .”
“ They either start firing synchronously , or they stop functioning altogether .”
As an analogy , Professor Hilliard likened the role of neurons to that of wires connecting switches to the lights in a kitchen and a bathroom .
“ Once fusion takes place , each switch either turns on both the kitchen and bathroom lights at the same time , or neither of them ,” he said .
“ It ’ s bad news for the two independent circuits .”
The discovery offers a potential explanation for persistent neurological effects after a viral infection .
“ In the current understanding of what happens when a virus enters the brain , there are two outcomes – either cell death or inflammation ,” Dr Martinez-Marmol said .
“ But we ’ ve shown a third possible outcome , which is neuronal fusion .”
Dr Martinez-Marmol said numerous viruses cause cell fusion in other tissues , but also infect the nervous system and could be causing the same problem there .
“ These viruses include HIV , rabies , Japanese encephalitis , measles , herpes simplex virus and Zika virus ,” he said .
“ Our research reveals a new mechanism for the neurological events that happen during a viral infection .
“ This is potentially a major cause of neurological diseases and clinical symptoms that is still unexplored .” g