New Insights into Covid-19: Immune System Misfires and Emerging Variants

Understanding Immune Response to Covid-19

New Delhi, June 11: Recent research from Israel has unveiled that a specific protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus can inadvertently lead the immune system to attack healthy cells. This finding comes amid a resurgence of Covid-19 cases.

The findings, published in the journal Cell Reports, provide insights into the mechanisms behind severe complications associated with Covid-19 and propose potential strategies to mitigate immune-related damage caused by the virus, as reported by a news agency.

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered that the nucleocapsid protein (NP) of the virus, which typically assists in packaging the virus's genetic material within infected cells, can also transfer to adjacent uninfected epithelial cells.

When NP appears on the surface of these healthy cells, the immune system mistakenly perceives it as a threat. Consequently, the immune response activates anti-NP antibodies, marking these uninfected cells for destruction.

This reaction initiates the classical complement pathway, a component of the immune response that results in inflammation and tissue damage, which can lead to severe Covid symptoms and potentially long Covid.

Utilizing lab-grown cells, advanced imaging techniques, and samples from Covid-19 patients, the researchers observed that NP attaches to specific molecules on cell surfaces. This binding causes the protein to aggregate on healthy cells, further misleading the immune system.

Additionally, the study revealed that enoxaparin, a widely used blood thinner and heparin analog, can inhibit NP from adhering to healthy cells. In laboratory tests and patient samples, enoxaparin effectively prevented immune attacks by occupying the binding sites utilized by NP.

The researchers believe this discovery could pave the way for new treatments aimed at reducing immune-related complications in Covid-19 and possibly other viral infections.

In related news, a new Covid variant named NB.1.8.1 has been rapidly spreading across various regions globally, raising new concerns. This variant, part of the Omicron lineage, was first identified in January 2025 and has been reported in countries such as India, the US, the UK, Australia, China, Maldives, and Egypt.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as a 'Variant Under Monitoring,' indicating that while it is spreading quickly, it does not yet pose a significant threat.