Some COVID-19 Patients Suffered Heart Damage, an Overlooked Coronavirus Protein May Explain Why

discovermagazine - Discover how the inconspicuous nucleocapsid protein from coronaviruses can trigger hyperinflammation, an effect not typically seen in other viruses.

AI Summary: Scientists identified a previously underappreciated SARS‑CoV‑2 protein that appears to damage heart tissue and may help explain persistent post‑COVID symptoms. The study ties the viral molecule to mechanisms of cardiac injury, opening diagnostic and therapeutic research paths for long COVID cardiac effects — proof that sometimes the troublemaker was hiding in plain sight.