Long COVID Breakthrough:
Spike Proteins Persist in Brain for Years
Spike Protein Accumulates in the Brain
A novel AI-powered imaging technique developed by Prof. Ali Ertürk’s team provides new insights into how the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein affects the brain. The method renders organs and tissue samples transparent, enabling the three-dimensional visualization of cellular structures, metabolites, and, in this case, viral proteins. Using this technology, the researchers uncovered previously undetectable distributions of spike protein in tissue samples from COVID-19 patients and mice.
The study, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, revealed significantly elevated concentrations of spike protein in the skull’s bone marrow and meninges, even years after infection. The spike protein binds to so-called ACE2 receptors, which are particularly abundant in these regions.