Insights into COVID-19: Perspectives on Drug Remedies and Host Cell Responses

Biomolecules. 2023 Sep 26;13(10):1452. doi: 10.3390/biom13101452.

Abstract

In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, ongoing research has centered on minimizing viral spread either by stopping viral entry or inhibiting viral replication. Repurposing antiviral drugs, typically nucleoside analogs, has proven successful at inhibiting virus replication. This review summarizes current information regarding coronavirus classification and characterization and presents the broad clinical consequences of SARS-CoV-2 activation of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor expressed in different human cell types. It provides publicly available knowledge on the chemical nature of proposed therapeutics and their target biomolecules to assist in the identification of potentially new drugs for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Keywords: ACE2; COVID-19; coronavirus; drug design; nucleoside analogs; target cell responses.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / chemistry
  • SARS-CoV-2 / metabolism
  • Virus Internalization

Substances

  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • Antiviral Agents