Additional little bit that reminded me of that cell-cell fusion trait… another paper described the SARS-CoV-2 autopsy results, and included this:
Multinucleated syncytial cells with atypical enlarged pneumocytes showed viral cytopathic-like changes, without obvious intranuclear or intracytoplasmic viral inclusions.
Translation: The paper-thin, high-surface-area (for gas exchange) cells wrapping your lung balloons (the pneumocytes in your alveoli) fuse together with each other into an ineffectual, clumpy mess with a way lower surface-area-to-volume ratio. These are fragile cells to begin with; they don’t even replicate themselves (other cells have to replace them when they break). They don’t seem to be producing virus themselves, but they do seem to be getting badly screwed up by things the virus is doing.
Additional little bit that reminded me of that cell-cell fusion trait… another paper described the SARS-CoV-2 autopsy results, and included this:
Translation: The paper-thin, high-surface-area (for gas exchange) cells wrapping your lung balloons (the pneumocytes in your alveoli) fuse together with each other into an ineffectual, clumpy mess with a way lower surface-area-to-volume ratio. These are fragile cells to begin with; they don’t even replicate themselves (other cells have to replace them when they break). They don’t seem to be producing virus themselves, but they do seem to be getting badly screwed up by things the virus is doing.