Evasion of NKG2D-mediated cytotoxic immunity by sarbecoviruses. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38653235/)

These scientists wanted to understand how a virus called SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, can trick our immune system. They found that our immune cells have a special receptor called NKG2D that helps them recognize infected cells. However, the virus can hide from this receptor by shedding certain molecules that the receptor looks for.

The scientists discovered that a specific protein in the virus, called ORF6, is responsible for this trickery. They also found that natural killer cells, which are important for fighting viruses, can still kill SARS-CoV-2-infected cells but are more effective when a certain antibody, called 7C6, is used to stop the shedding of those molecules.

In simple terms, the scientists figured out how the virus avoids being detected by our immune system and found a way to make our immune cells better at fighting the virus by using a special antibody. This study could help develop new treatments to fight viruses like SARS-CoV-2 in the future.

Hartmann JA., Cardoso MR., Talarico MCR., Kenney DJ., Leone MR., Reese DC., Turcinovic J., O'Connell AK., Gertje HP., Marino C., Ojeda PE., De Paula EV., Orsi FA., Velloso LA., Cafiero TR., Connor JH., Ploss A., Hoelzemer A., Carrington M., Barczak AK., Crossland NA., Douam F., Boucau J., Garcia-Beltran WF. Evasion of NKG2D-mediated cytotoxic immunity by sarbecoviruses. Cell. 2024 May 9;187(10):2393-2410.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.026. Epub 2024 Apr 22.