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Scientists decode how coronavirus damages lung cells within hours

Following months of interdisciplinary research, scientists have created one of the most comprehensive maps to date of the molecular activities that are triggered inside these cells at the onset of the viral infection, an advance that may lead to the development of new drugs to combat COVID-19.

“It was scary to see that the virus already starts to damage the cells so early during infection,” said study co-author and virologist Elke Muhlberger from Boston University (BU).