How does coronavirus invade cells? How can we respond to it?
Dr. Huang | Mar 2, 2020
At the end of 2019, a large-scale illness broke out from Wuhan, Hubei Province - a central province of China. The virus that cased this illness could enter the respiratory tract through droplets - moreover, the increasingly busy traffic conditions and travel around the holiday season made the virus spread extremely rapidly. In just over a month, the epidemic spread throughout the land of China. The viral infection can lead to an illness with symptoms including fever, difficulty breathing, impaired liver and kidney function, serious cough and pneumonia - in some severe cases, the virus can cause shock or even death.
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How does coronavirus enter the cell through a host receptor?
Dr. L | Feb 28, 2020
The recent emergence of Coronavirus Disease in 2019 (COVID-19), caused by infection by SARS-CoV-2, has put the world on high alert. People are concerned about how soon drugs and vaccines will be available after the isolation of virus strains and the completion of sequencing and comparative analysis. The scientific community is also dedicated to researching the mechanism of viral infection, with the aim to achieving precise control as soon as possible.
Coronavirus spike (S) glycoprotein and receptor ACE2 are key binding sites for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Due to the similarity of the genetic sequences and pathogenesis between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, the scientific community has once again turned its attention to the study of coronavirus spike and receptor ACE2 interactions. The analysis of the binding site of the S protein and the host receptor protein is of great significance, allowing us to better understand the mode of viral invasion and its mechanism of action (MOA) on the receptor. This information is not only critical for the identification of strategies to prevent further spread of SARS-CoV-2, but also serves as guidance for preventing and controlling the emergence of coronaviruses in the future.
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ACE2 humanized mice - estimated to be available to researchers in as soon as 2 months
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