Coronavirus membrane fusion mechanism offers a potential target for antiviral development.
Antiviral Res
; 178: 104792, 2020 06.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-34819
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has focused attention on the need to develop effective therapies against the causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, and also against other pathogenic coronaviruses (CoV) that have emerged in the past or might appear in future. Researchers are therefore focusing on steps in the CoV replication cycle that may be vulnerable to inhibition by broad-spectrum or specific antiviral agents. The conserved nature of the fusion domain and mechanism across the CoV family make it a valuable target to elucidate and develop pan-CoV therapeutics. In this article, we review the role of the CoV spike protein in mediating fusion of the viral and host cell membranes, summarizing the results of research on SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and recent peer-reviewed studies of SARS-CoV-2, and suggest that the fusion mechanism be investigated as a potential antiviral target. We also provide a supplemental file containing background information on the biology, epidemiology, and clinical features of all human-infecting coronaviruses, along with a phylogenetic tree of these coronaviruses.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Antiviral Agents
/
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
/
Betacoronavirus
/
Membrane Fusion
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Antiviral Res
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.antiviral.2020.104792
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