Scientists from the Rosalind Franklin Institute and Oxford University have proven the existence of the mechanism
In the process of research, the method of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used along with detailed visualization of the virus. The new method was called universal saturation transfer analysis.
It turned out that COVID-19 attaches to sialicacids found on the surface of human cells. The first strain of the coronavirus, Wuhan, probably possessed such properties. Subsequent strains "Delta" and "Omicron" do not have such qualities. These viruses attach to ACE2 proteins using spikes on the envelope.
The theory of this mechanism existed before, but has not been proven by anyone. Thanks to these studies, experts were able to give an affirmative answer.