SARS-CoV-2 spreads from cell to cell in the lung through specific viral mechanisms
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 90/100
Multiple studies confirm that SARS-CoV-2 spreads from cell to cell in the lung through specific viral mechanisms, notably spike-mediated membrane fusion, syncytia formation, and host cell receptor interactions.
Evidence for · 4
Integrated analyses of single-cell atlases reveal age, gender, and smoking status associations with cell type-specific expression of mediators of SARS-CoV-2 viral entry and highlights inflammatory programs in putative target cells
2020 · cited by 258
The paper details how cellular entry and propagation mediators like ACE2, TMPRSS2, and CTSL are expressed in specific lung cell types, influencing viral susceptibility.
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More for · 3
SARS-CoV-2 requires cholesterol for viral entry and pathological syncytia formation
2020 · cited by 182
The study elucidates specific viral mechanisms such as spike/ACE2-driven membrane fusion and syncytia formation facilitated by membrane cholesterol.
Infection kinetics, syncytia formation, and inflammatory biomarkers as predictive indicators for the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in Calu-3 cells
2024 · cited by 8
The research demonstrates how viral variants utilize specific phenotypic advantages like early infection kinetics and syncytia formation for cell-to-cell spread in lung epithelial cells.
Mechanisms of Cell–Cell Fusion in SARS-CoV-2: An Evolving Strategy for Transmission and Immune Evasion
2025 · cited by 6
The review details how SARS-CoV-2 spreads via cell syncytia formation, where infected cells fuse with noninfected cells to bypass humoral immunity.