Work

Role of IgA1 protease-producing bacteria in SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission: a hypothesis

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Secretory (S) IgA antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 are induced in saliva and upper respiratory tract (URT) secretions by natural infection and may be critical in determining the outcome of initial infection. Secretory IgA1 (SIgA1) is the predominant isotype of antibodies in these secretions. Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 is most effectively accomplished by polymeric antibodies such as SIgA. We hypothesize that cleavage of SIgA1 antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by unique bacterial IgA1 proteases to univalent Fabα antibody fragments with diminished virus neutralizing activity would facilitate the descent of the virus into the lungs to cause serious disease and also enhance its airborne transmission to others. Recent studies of the nasopharyngeal microbiota of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection have revealed significant increases in the proportions of IgA1 protease-producing bacteria in comparison with healthy subjects. Similar considerations might apply also to other respiratory viral infections including influenza, possibly explaining the original attribution of influenza to Haemophilus influenzae , which produces IgA1 protease.

Source: mBio

DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00833-24

Authors: Michael W. Russell, Mogens Kilian, Jiri Mestecky

Institutions: University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Aarhus University, Czech Academy of Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology

Language: English

Topic: SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,900