Question

Given what you’ve learned about antigen expression on erythrocytes, do you think other cells in the body express glycoproteins on their surface that help identify them as “self”? Why or why not?

What is the difference between being infected with a virus such as SARS-CoV-2 and contracting a disease such as COVID-19?

Answer 1

Yes, glycoproteins on the cell surface act in cell-cell recognition and in the binding of other molecules. Viruses also use glycoproteins to bind to a target host cell.

Actually glycoproteins are proteins that have sugars attached to them. Some examples are collagen, mucins, transferrins, immunoglobulins, antibodies, histocompatibility antigens, etc. Immune cells recognize the 'self ' cells from the foreign cells with the help of antigens which are expressed on them.

SARS-CoV-2 is a virus which can infect people and cause a disease named Covid - 19, a name given by the World Health Organization. It is possible that a person might be infected by coronavirus 2, as it is called, but not suffer from Covid - I9. The coronavirus infects the lower respiratory tract and causes novel coronavirus pneumonia [NCP]. The early symptoms are headache, fever and dry cough. Many people recover from the early stages. In the advanced stage, the novel coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2, causes severe breathing problems, chest pain and heaviness, loss of speech and movement, resulting in death of the person.

So, the SARS-CoV-2 can infect people but might not cause Covid 19 disease.