{
  "id": 236686,
  "title": "Some COVID-19 Patients Suffered Heart Damage, an Overlooked Coronavirus Protein May Explain Why",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/some-covid-19-patients-suffered-heart-damage-an-overlooked",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-06T20:19:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discover Magazine",
    "slug": "discover-magazine",
    "url": "https://www.discovermagazine.com/some-covid-19-patients-suffered-heart-damage-an-overlooked-coronavirus-protein-may-explain-why-49506"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, scientists initially concentrated on creating vaccines targeting the virus's surface spike protein. However, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have discovered that another virus protein, called the nucleocapsid protein, may play a significant role in severe cases of COVID-19. This protein, which was previously unrecognized, appears to hyperactivate the immune system, leading to inflammation and potential damage to blood vessels, including those in the heart.",
  "summary": "Discover how the inconspicuous nucleocapsid protein from coronaviruses can trigger hyperinflammation, an effect not typically seen in other viruses.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}