Abstract
The identification in 2003 of a coronavirus as the aetiological agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) intensified efforts to understand the biology of coronaviruses in general and SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in particular. Rapid progress was made in describing the SARS-CoV genome, evolution and lifecycle. Identification of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as an obligate cellular receptor for SARS-CoV contributed to understanding of the SARS-CoV entry process, and helped to characterize two targets of antiviral therapeutics: the SARS-CoV spike protein and ACE2. Here we describe the role of these proteins in SARS-CoV replication and potential therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing entry of SARS-CoV into target cells.
MeSH terms
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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
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Animals
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Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
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Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
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Cats
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Cattle
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Dogs
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Humans
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Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry
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Membrane Glycoproteins / drug effects*
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Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
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Models, Molecular
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Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / drug effects*
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Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
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Rabbits
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Rats
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Receptors, Virus / drug effects*
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Receptors, Virus / metabolism
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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / drug therapy
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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / virology
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / drug effects
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / pathogenicity*
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Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
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Viral Envelope Proteins / chemistry
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Viral Envelope Proteins / drug effects*
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Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism
Substances
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Antiviral Agents
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Receptors, Virus
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Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
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Viral Envelope Proteins
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spike glycoprotein, SARS-CoV
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Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
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ACE2 protein, human
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Ace2 protein, rat
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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2