Australian scientists have discovered a receptor in the human body that “blocks” COVID-19 infections and forms a natural protective barrier from the virus.
The receptor – leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 15 (LRRC15) – “binds the SARS-CoV-2 virus” without passing it on, meaning scientists can now look into developing antiviral and antifibrotic treatments for the disease.
The research was conducted by scientists at the University of Sydney alongside two other leading universities in the US.
The results “open up an entirely new area of immunology research around LRRC15” and offers “a promising pathway” to manufacturing new drugs to prevent viral infection such as COVID-19.
The research could also mean new treatment options for people with fibrosis in the lungs.
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“Alongside two other groups, one at Oxford, the other at Brown and Yale in the USA, we found a new receptor in the LRRC15 protein that can stop SARS-CoV-2. We found that this new receptor acts by binding to the virus and sequestering it which reduces infection,” Professor Greg Neely from Sydney University’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences said.
“For me, as an immunologist, the fact that there’s this natural immune receptor that we didn’t know about, that’s lining our lungs and blocks and controls virus, that’s crazy interesting.
“We can now use this new receptor to design broad-acting drugs that can block viral infection or even suppress lung fibrosis.”
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