nference Study Produces First Molecular Hypothesis Explaining COVID-19-Induced Myocarditis - PRNewswire

An analysis at the intersection of human genetic variation and SARS-CoV-2 evolution found identical peptide suggesting a potential for autoimmunity and molecular mimicry.

30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- nference, the AI-driven health technology company, today announced publication of a preprint study in bioRxiv that found the genetic alteration of some linear peptides expressed specifically in the human heart are mimicked by the SARS-CoV-2 polyprotein (replicase).

Authors of "Genetic alteration of human MYH6 is mimicked by SARS-CoV-2 polyprotein: mapping viral variants of cardiac interest" compared genetic variations encoded by the exomes from 141,456 individuals across the globe against SARS-CoV-2 genomes.

By comparing peptides of human cardiac proteins and SARS-CoV-2 proteins, researchers found 21 identical 8-mer peptides between the virus and humans.

In addition, a specific genetic variant of myosin heavy chain (MYH6) that is observed in rare instances in African American, Eastern Asian and South Asian populations was identical to a peptide of the SARS-CoV-2 replicase protein

The study's authors suggest that SARS-CoV-2 variants harboring peptides identical to human cardiac proteins should be investigated as "viral variants of cardiac interest."