A Stealth Weapon of Cellular Mass Destruction: The Spike Protein, its mRNA and Nanotubes

The mechanism by which the Spike may be inducing systemic errors of translation and why it is hidden

Tunneling nanotube bridge provides a conduit for SARS-COV-2 to cross from one cell to another. A closeup is shown below with viruses in transit. Credit: Anna Pepe/Institut Pasteur.

A paper in Scientific American caught my attention. In July of last year it was shown that SARS-CoV-2 travels incognito from cell to cell via nanotubes. I have kept this in the back of my mind. The recent discovery that the Spike remodels actin (see previous post on platelets and actin remodeling) brought this paper back to the front. The Spike caused the formation of filopodia. Actin remodeling also creates nanotubes, which are modified filopodia.

This mechanism also allows the Spike to propagate throughout the body COMPLETELY UNDETECTED AND ESCAPE THE IMMUNE RESPONSE.

The nanotube route “is a shortcut that propagates infection fast and between different organs, permissive or not permissive, to the infection,” says Chiara Zurzolo, a cell biologist at the Pasteur Institute, who conducted the study. “And it might be also a way for the virus to hide and escape the immune response.”

The virus may be capable of commandeering a cell’s own nanotubes, diverting them away from other routine tasks, such as transferring lipids and proteins between cells. Early research on SARS-CoV-2 suggested that it might be able to hijack similar cell projections. A 2020 paper published in the journal Cell found that cells infected with the novel coronavirus extended out antennalike feelers called filopodia with viral particles onboard.

By tagging viral proteins with antibodies and fluorescent compounds so that they stood out, the researchers captured high-resolution images of the virus within the tunneling nanotubes that connected the cells. They could see both viral particles and little sacs called vesicles in which the virus copies itself. They also detected proteins that are part of the cellular machinery the virus uses to replicate.

COVID Virus May Tunnel through Nanotubes from Nose to Brain
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-virus-may-tunnel-through-nanotubes-from-nose-to-brain/

Looking into this further, I discovered that the viral particles that are being transferred are not just complete virions. The SPIKE AND ITS RNP (RIBONUCLEOPROTEIN).

What is ribonucleoprotein?

A ribonucleoprotein (RNP) is a complex of ribonucleic acid and RNA-binding protein. These complexes play an integral part in a number of important biological functions that include transcription, translation and regulating gene expression and regulating the metabolism of RNA.

So, it is understandable that the following is very disturbing.

We also observed multiple vesicular structures with a diameter of about 50 to 100 nm inside the TNT lumen. In some instances, both RNP and/or S structures were recognizable. In addition, virus-like structures, where we could discern the RNP, and/or S-like structures were found inside larger vesicle in TNTs.

Tunneling nanotubes provide a route for SARS-CoV-2 spreading
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abo0171

So, let’s go one level deeper. We have so far only discussed the virus. Let us now look at the mRNA injections.

Results demonstrated induction of circulating exosomes expressing spike protein on day 14 after vaccination followed by Abs 14 d after the second dose.

Cutting Edge: Circulating Exosomes with COVID Spike Protein Are Induced by BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioNTech) Vaccination prior to Development of Antibodies: A Novel Mechanism for Immune Activation by mRNA Vaccines
https://journals.aai.org/jimmunol/article/207/10/2405/234284/Cutting-Edge-Circulating-Exosomes-with-COVID-Spike

Why is this particularly bad news?

Exosomes form tunneling nanotubes (TUNTs) in the blood-brain barrier: a nano-anatomical perspective of barrier genesis
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2022.938315/full

Yet, we have one more layer of complexity to add to this maelstrom – the worst aspect of it all.

mRNA molecules convey genetic information within cells, beginning from genes in the nucleus to ribosomes in the cell body, where they are translated into proteins. Here we show a mode of transferring genetic information from one cell to another. Contrary to previous publications suggesting that mRNAs transfer via extracellular vesicles, we provide visual and quantitative data showing that mRNAs transfer via membrane nanotubes and direct cell-to-cell contact.

Intercellular mRNA trafficking via membrane nanotube-like extensions in mammalian cells
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1706365114

If one was inclined to believe in evil intentions, one could argue that the forced mate of humanity in 35 was discovered, and the first moves of this unstoppable sequence have been played. But chess is also a game of defensive resources. To those we must now look in earnest.