Bacterial modification of the host glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate modulates SARS-CoV-2 infectivity
C. Martino, B. P. Kellman, D. R. Sandoval, T. M. Clausen, C. A. Marotz, S. J. Song, S. Wandro, L. S. Zaramela, R. A. Salido Benitez, Q. Zhu, E. Armingol, Y. Vazquez-Baeza, D. McDonald, J. T. Sorrentino, B. Taylor, , R. Knight
This study shows that commensal bacteria modify heparan sulfate, reducing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding and that this bacterial presence decreases with age, increasing COVID-19 susceptibility.
bioRxiv · Aug 17, 2020 · PreprintMicrobiology