Dispatch from the frontiers of COVID-19

The major cellular gateway for infecting SARS-CoV-2 appears to be a cell-surface protein called ACE2. But it turns out that not all of our ACE2 is anchored to the surface of cells. Circulating soluble ACE2 protein could glom onto infectious virus, preventing it from finding cells to infect. Higher levels of soluble ACE2 in children and genetic variation in soluble ACE2 may explain the resistance of children and asymptomatic carriers.
"By a buffering effect, and much like neutralizing antibodies, soluble ACE2 may help children and asymptomatic people to better counteract virus spreading to a cell target. On one hand, this could help them to contain infection. On the other hand, this could also let these carriers be an important reservoir of circulating virus, and so this deserve much of our attention in the near future."

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