SARS-CoV-2 and Bacterial Infections Linked to Guillain Barre via Protein Mimicry
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 18, 2025 7 hours, 24 minutes ago
Medical News: SARS-CoV-2 and Bacterial Infections Linked to Guillain Barre via Protein Mimicry
A groundbreaking new study from researchers at the Universidad Católica de Santa María in Arequipa, Peru, is shedding light on the mysterious connection between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare but serious neurological condition that can cause sudden muscle weakness and paralysis.
SARS-CoV-2 and Bacterial Infections Linked to Guillain Barre via Protein Mimicry
According to the research team, specific human nerve proteins may be mimicked by certain bacterial and viral proteins—including those from SARS-CoV-2—triggering the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack its own nerves.
This
Medical News report explores how a shared protein sequence between human and microbial proteins could be the root cause of this autoimmune reaction, using cutting-edge computer simulations and molecular biology techniques.
What Is Guillain Barre Syndrome
Guillain-Barré Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, often leading to symptoms like tingling, muscle weakness, loss of reflexes, and in severe cases, paralysis. The syndrome often emerges after infections from common bacteria like Campylobacter jejuni, Streptococcus pneumoniae, E. coli, or more recently, the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While doctors have long suspected a link between infections and GBS, the exact molecular mechanism has remained elusive—until now.
The Hidden Trigger Found in Proteins
The Peruvian scientists, Dr. Gustavo Alberto Obando-Pereda and Dr. Luis Alberto Ponce-Soto, conducted in-depth “in silico” (computer-based) modeling and analysis to find what they call a “molecular mimicry” event. They discovered that a short six-amino acid sequence—KGEKGD—was present both in key human nerve proteins (gliomedin and the ryanodine receptor type 3) and in bacteria frequently associated with GBS, including S. pyogenes, H. influenzae, and C. jejuni.
Strikingly, this same sequence is also found in proteins from SARS-CoV-2.
This shared sequence appears on the outer surface of proteins, making it highly visible to the immune system. Once exposed during an infection, the immune system may mistake human nerve cells as foreign invaders and begin to attack them, triggering the onset of GBS.
Powerful Immune Reaction Uncovered
The team’s analysis also found that this protein sequence can be recognized by both cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells—key players in the immune system—via MHC class I and II pathways. Using molecular docking simulations, they demonstrated that the sequence binds strongly with specific immune cell receptors, a sign that it could indeed provoke an autoimmune response.
Further 3D structural modeling confirmed that the sequence
is located in highly antigenic, surface-accessible regions of the human proteins, reinforcing its potential role in triggering GBS through immune system confusion.
Why This Discovery Matters
The findings offer a clearer explanation of why some people, particularly after infections like COVID-19, go on to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome even without prior autoimmune conditions. The identification of a common peptide sequence acting as a trigger can guide new diagnostic tools and pave the way for more targeted prevention strategies.
In conclusion, this study presents compelling evidence that a shared molecular signature between microbial pathogens and human nerve proteins may be the missing link in explaining how infections cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Understanding this mimicry could help clinicians better predict and manage post-infectious complications, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Immuno.
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5601/5/3/28
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/neutrophil-trap-genes-could-be-the-missing-link-between-long-covid-and-guillain-barre-syndrome
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/collaborative-international--study-confirms-that-sars-cov-2-infection-can-trigger-guillain-barre-syndrome
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-scientist-from-rutgers-university-warns-that-guillain%E2%80%93barr%C3%A9-syndrome-can-be-triggered-by-sars-cov-2
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