Northwestern and UIC scientists identified a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mutation enabling virus entry into the central nervous system, possibly explaining long Covid neurological symptoms.

Northwestern University and University of Illinois at Chicago scientists found a mutation in SARS-CoV-2's spike protein which allows the virus to infect the central nervous system, possibly explaining neurological symptoms of "long Covid." The study published in Nature Microbiology revealed several alterations in the spike protein that increase the virus's ability to infect mice's brains. This discovery could lead to targeted therapies to protect the brain from the virus and may have significant implications for treating neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

August 23, 2024
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