Coronavirus fattens up the victim’s body cells to aid in its viral takeover. According to a new study, some fat cells increase 64 times their normal levels. The COVID-19 virus takes over the body’s fat processing system in a massive takeover.
According to scientists, it creates cellular fat stores, giving it the ability to hijack the body’s molecular machinery and cause disease. The researchers attempted to control the virus in the cell culture by using weight-loss drugs and other fat-targeting compounds. The virus stopped replicating within 48 hours after being cut off from its fatty fuel, according to the study.
This study was published in the ‘Nature Communications’ scientific journal. “This is exciting work, but it’s the start of a very long journey. We have an interesting observation, but we have a lot more to learn about the mechanisms of this disease,” said Fikadu Tafesse, corresponding author of the study. Tafesse is also the assistant professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Oregon Health & Science University.
These experts investigated the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on over 400 lipids in two different human cell lines. The scientists observed a massive shift in lipid levels. Some fats increased by approximately 64 times. In one cell line, the virus altered approximately 80% of the fats. In the other, approximately 50% were changed.
