Evidence indicates that the SARS-CoV-2 genome could integrate into human DNA

Researchers from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a study supporting the hypothesis that a human enzyme could integrate fragments of viral RNA into the human genome by reverse transcription, a mechanism by which RNA can be transcribed but in the form of DNA.

The scientists showed copies of SARS-CoV-2 DNA in cultured infected human cells, however, the authors warn that more evidence is needed to prove their hypothesis, as they believe that these findings may be due, in some measure, to the molecular detection technique itself.

Source: Zhang L, Richards A, Barrasa MI, Hughes SH, Young RA, Jaenisch R. Reverse-transcribed SARS-CoV-2 RNA can integrate into the genome of cultured human cells and can be expressed in patient-derived tissues. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021;118(21).

Written by Dr. Carmen de la Rocha. D. in Plant Biotechnology, CINVESTAV-Irapuato - Master of Science in Biochemical Engineering, ITC – Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science, IBERO, León - Supervisor of the Department of Development CidVID - Professor of Subject B, CUCS UdeG Member of the National System of Researchers, level I.