Right: Immunofluorescent staining shows expression of new SARS-CoV-2 spike-receptor LRRC15 (green) in post-mortem lung tissue section from individual with COVID-19 [Credit: Loo and Waller et al. Implications of the research“When we studied how this new receptor works, we found that this receptor also controls antiviral responses, as well as fibrosis, and could link COVID-19 infection with lung fibrosis that occurs during long COVID,” Mr Waller said. Dr Lipin Loo is funded by a Dr John and Anne Chong Fellowship for Genome Editing and seed funding from the Drug Discovery Initiative at the University of Sydney, and Mathew Waller is funded by a Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship from the Australian Government