Could SARS-CoV-2 Have Bacteriophage Behavior or Induce the Activity of Other Bacteriophages?, 2022, Brogna et al

[Andy]

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 has become one of the most studied viruses of the last century. It was assumed that the only possible host for these types of viruses was mammalian eukaryotic cells. Our recent studies show that microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract affect the severity of COVID-19 and for the first time provide indications that the virus might replicate in gut bacteria. In order to further support these findings, in the present work, cultures of bacteria from the human microbiome and SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed by electron and fluorescence microscopy.

The images presented in this article, in association with the nitrogen (15N) isotope-labeled culture medium experiment, suggest that SARS-CoV-2 could also infect bacteria in the gut microbiota, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 could act as a bacteriophage. Our results add new knowledge to the understanding of the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and fill gaps in the study of the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and non-mammalian cells. These findings could be useful in suggesting specific new pharmacological solutions to support the vaccination campaign.

Open access, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/5/708/htm

 

[Hoopoe]

Is there any reason that long covid couldn't be explained by a infection of intestinal bacteria, leading to continued exposure to spike protein, perhaps for many more months after the apparent end of the infection? And then eventually to some sort of dysregulation of the immune system that cannot handle this chronic stimulation.

 

[roller*]

does this mean, that in this case the person tests negative for the covid-virus?

..anyway... this is a groundbreaking discovery, if true...

 

[roller*]

im wondering, if this is related to the spanish dogs

for what i understand

- during covid pandemie huge rise of respiratory infections in spanish dogs
- also, higher than usual fatality rate
- no covid virus found
- also, none of the usual respiratory-bugs found
- they didnt find the cause
- ...though one finding: high mycoplasma spp.

The forty sick dogs were negative for SARS-CoV-2 but Mycoplasma spp. was detected in 26 of 33 dogs. Five healthy and one pathological dog presented IgG against SARS-CoV-2.

Here we report that despite detecting dogs with α-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, we never obtained a positive RT-qPCR for SARS-SoV-2, not even in dogs with severe pulmonary disease; suggesting that even in the case of canine infection, transmission would be unlikely.

https://veterinaryresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13567-021-00897-y