Research
A coronavirus protease activates sensory neurons via TRPA1 to drive sneeze, cough, and pain
Neuron · By Sonali S. Mali, Zhongyan Gong, Ricardo Silva, Alexander N. Flamm, Christopher P. Cook, Lillian Shallow, Jennyffer Souza, Michael Cronce, Christopher J. Arp, Amr A.K. Mousa, Uyen Vo, Cliff Vuong, Jay Keasling, Yalda Moayedi, Jeffery S. Cox, Rithwik Ramachandran, Sarah A. Stanley & Diana M. Bautista ·
The Brief
- A study by Mali et al. reports that coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, trigger sneezing, coughing and pain hypersensitivity by directly activating nociceptors.
- The viral protein PLpro alone is sufficient to produce these effects.
- The work identifies a mechanism by which the virus drives hallmark symptoms.
Why it matters
It identifies a direct neural route by which a coronavirus protein produces sneezing, coughing and pain, which can help explain these symptoms and point to possible targets for treatment.
Who’s affected
- virologists and immunologists studying coronaviruses
- neuroscientists studying sensory neurons and pain
- researchers working on respiratory symptoms
- #coronavirus
- #sars-cov-2
- #trpa1
- #nociceptors
- #sneezing
- #viral-protease
Mali et al. show that coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, trigger sneezing, coughing, and pain hypersensitivity by directly activating nociceptors. The viral protein PLpro alone is sufficient to produce these effects, revealing a mechanism by which the virus drives hallmark…
Timeline
Study by Mali et al. published in Neuron
cell.com
A coronavirus protease activates sensory neurons via TRPA1 to drive sneeze, cough, and pain