Coronavirus may attack immune system, study reveals

The findings may help explain why SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates are so high, researchers say
SARS-CoV-2 (yellow) emerging from the surface of cells. Photo: NIAID-RML

The virus that causes COVID-19 may attack the immune system by invading T-cells, leading to the patient’s death, a study reports.

Researchers from China and the US say their results show that the novel protein “spike” of SARS-CoV-2 allows it to enter T-lymphocyte cells.