A key finding of the present study is that increased angiotensin II (1–8) also enhances the spike–AXL host cell receptor binding, suggesting a novel mechanism by which elevated angiotensin II (1–8) could amplify viral entry for infection and/or spike protein-mediated pathogenic effects that could lead to COVID-19-associated complications [22] (Figure 9). The gene discussed is AXL; the disease is infection.