Superantigens and SARS-CoV-2.

Pathogens

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

Published: March 2022

AI Article Synopsis

  • SARS-CoV-2 may have a unique superantigen-like motif not seen in other coronaviruses, which can cause an exaggerated immune response.
  • Understanding the effects of this potential superantigen is crucial, especially with concerns about reinfection and declining immunity.
  • There is an urgent need for research to evaluate the long-term risks of COVID-19 spread and to refine vaccination and public health strategies to mitigate the effects of repeated exposure.

Article Abstract

It has been posited SARS-CoV-2 contains at least one unique superantigen-like motif not found in any other SARS or endemic coronaviruses. Superantigens are potent antigens that can send the immune system into overdrive. SARS-CoV-2 causes many of the biological and clinical consequences of a superantigen, and, in the context of reinfection and waning immunity, it is important to better understand the impact of a widely circulating, airborne pathogen that may be a superantigen, superantigen-like or trigger a superantigenic host response. Urgent research is needed to better understand the long-term risks being taken by governments whose policies enable widespread transmission of a potential superantigenic pathogen, and to more clearly define the vaccination and public health policies needed to protect against the consequences of repeat exposure to the pathogen.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9026686PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11040390DOI Listing

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