The biogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein: multiple targets for host-directed antiviral therapy.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun
; 538: 80-87, 2021 01 29.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1125492
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-19), represents a far more serious threat to public health than SARS and MERS coronaviruses, due to its ability to spread more efficiently than its predecessors. Currently, there is no worldwide-approved effective treatment for COVID-19, urging the scientific community to intense efforts to accelerate the discovery and development of prophylactic and therapeutic solutions against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In particular, effective antiviral drugs are urgently needed. With few exceptions, therapeutic approaches to combat viral infections have traditionally focused on targeting unique viral components or enzymes; however, it has now become evident that this strategy often fails due to the rapid emergence of drug-resistant viruses. Targeting host factors that are essential for the virus life cycle, but are dispensable for the host, has recently received increasing attention. The spike glycoprotein, a component of the viral envelope that decorates the virion surface as a distinctive crown ("corona") and is essential for SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells, represents a key target for developing therapeutics capable of blocking virus invasion. This review highlights aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 spike biogenesis that may be amenable to host-directed antiviral targeting.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Antiviral Agents
/
Virus Internalization
/
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Biochem Biophys Res Commun
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.bbrc.2020.10.080
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