Archive · 11 Jun 2025
Study: COVID-19 Protein Causes Immune System to Attack Healthy Cells
Imagine your body's security system can sometimes make a mistake.
Scientists found that a part of the COVID-19 virus can trick this system into attacking healthy cells.
This part, called NP, normally helps build the virus.
However, it can spread to healthy cells and confuse the body's defenses.
The body then sends out soldiers to destroy these healthy cells, which causes inflammation and can make people very sick.
Researchers also found a medicine, enoxaparin, that might stop this from happening.
Meanwhile, a new version of the virus, NB.1.8.1, is spreading around the world, and experts are keeping an eye on it.
Israeli researchers found a SARS-CoV-2 protein can cause the immune system to attack healthy cells.
The virus's nucleocapsid protein (NP) can spread to uninfected cells and be identified as a threat.
The immune system then deploys antibodies, marking the cells for destruction and triggering inflammation.
Researchers found that enoxaparin, a blood thinner, blocks NP from sticking to healthy cells.
A new Covid variant, NB.1.8.1, is spreading globally and is being monitored by the WHO.
- Who
- Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem conducted the study. A new COVID variant, NB.1.8.1, is spreading.
- What
- Researchers discovered a protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy cells.
- When
- The study was published recently amid a fresh wave of Covid-19. The new variant was first detected in January 2025.
- Where
- The research was conducted by Israeli researchers.
- Why
- To understand the severe complications of COVID-19 and find ways to prevent immune-driven damage.
- Study Publication
- Cell Reports
- Protein of Concern
- Nucleocapsid protein (NP)
- Result of NP
- Immune attack on healthy cells
- Potential Treatment
- Enoxaparin
- New Variant
- NB.1.8.1
- Variant Status
- Variant Under Monitoring