https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5559-8482
Figures & data
(A) Schematic illustration of the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 and its single-stranded RNA genome. The S protein in the envelope of the virus is also shown. The spikes on the surface of coronaviruses give this virus family its name – corona, which is Latin for ‘crown’. Shown below the virus in schematic form are host cells (for instance, nasal or lung epithelial cells) expressing ACE2, the main cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2, and TMPRSS2, a protease that processes the S protein, readying the virus for fusion with the membrane of the host cell [Citation16]. It is likely that other host receptors and proteases may also be involved in virus entry into host cells (not shown). (B) Structure of the receptor binding domain of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 complexed with ACE2. ACE2 is shown in blue, the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 is shown in gray. The closeup shows specific hydrogen bindings of a Tyr cluster.
S: Spike; SARS-CoV-2: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.
Figure 1B reproduced with permission from [Citation8] © Elsevier Inc. (2020).
![Figure 1. SARS-CoV-2 binds the host receptor, ACE2. (A) Schematic illustration of the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 and its single-stranded RNA genome. The S protein in the envelope of the virus is also shown. The spikes on the surface of coronaviruses give this virus family its name – corona, which is Latin for ‘crown’. Shown below the virus in schematic form are host cells (for instance, nasal or lung epithelial cells) expressing ACE2, the main cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2, and TMPRSS2, a protease that processes the S protein, readying the virus for fusion with the membrane of the host cell [Citation16]. It is likely that other host receptors and proteases may also be involved in virus entry into host cells (not shown). (B) Structure of the receptor binding domain of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 complexed with ACE2. ACE2 is shown in blue, the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 is shown in gray. The closeup shows specific hydrogen bindings of a Tyr cluster.S: Spike; SARS-CoV-2: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.Figure 1B reproduced with permission from [Citation8] © Elsevier Inc. (2020).](/cms/asset/9d35c444-a0bd-4c4c-8ab6-e868a1b257c0/innm_a_12341761_f0001.jpg)
This schematic figure shows SARS-CoV-2, the deadly coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in humans, and its host receptor, ACE2. We and others have postulated that synthetic nanoparticles decorated with recombinant human ACE2 (or with the minimal binding domain of ACE2) could act as decoys, intercepting the virus and thereby preventing the entry of the virus into susceptible host cells.
NP: Nanoparticle; SARS-CoV-2: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.
