The very animal that is believed to have spread the deadly coronavirus to humans, might be the one to save us from it too.
Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna in Austria have discovered that pangolins have certain unique mechanisms in their immune systems that protect them from the virus, according to Daily Maverick.
‘I was surprised to find that two sensors that are normally used by cells in other mammals to detect RNA viruses like the coronavirus, were missing,’ said Dr Leopold Eckhart, a co-author in the study that published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.
These sensors were no longer active in pangolins because of a mutation. In other mammals, including humans, these sensors trigger an ’emergency response’ in the immune system when it detects a virus, causing the infected person or animal to exhibit symptoms.
Pangolins, however are not affected by the virus at all and researchers believe these absent sensors may be the answer to the fight against the pandemic.
The authors of the study suggest that pharmaceutical suppression of gene signalling could be a treatment option for severe cases of Covid-19. This might come with its own set of challenges, however as it may increase the chances of contracting other diseases in the process once the immunity is lowered.
‘The main challenge is to reduce the response to the pathogen while maintaining sufficient control of the virus,’ Eckhart said.
There might still be a ways to go before experts find a cure, but studying the surprising way in which these creatures fight off infections already proved invaluable.
Image: Getaway gallery
