Cyagen White Paper: Insights on the Infection and Immune Mechanisms of COVID-19

At the end of 2019, an outbreak of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease in 2019) caused by the novel coronavirus, officially named SARS-CoV-2, swept across the world from Wuhan - having brought a huge impact on the lives of the people in China. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Emergency Committee declared the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020. In order to effectively address COVID-19 as a public health threat, we need an in-depth understanding of its infection and immune mechanisms. Herein, we will explore the known characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, similarities to related coronaviruses, potential antiviral targets, and lessons learned from the outbreak from a research perspective.

As we know, SARS-CoV uses angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) as a receptor for mediating cell entry and mainly infects epithelial cells of both the tracheobronchial tree and type II pneumocytes. While MERS-CoV uses dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4, also known as CD26) as a receptor to infect both undifferentiated bronchial epithelial cells and type II pneumocytes. Both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV interact with the host through binding interactions of the virus Spike protein and human ACE2 receptor protein - the receptor domain (RBD) of the two sharing a high homology.

What you can learn from this Paper:

1. The brief introduction of Coronavirus

2. The Characteristics and Correlations of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2

3. Methods to defend against COVID-19

4. What we have learned from the 2019 outbreak

In the paper，targeted immunotherapy, SC-1 peptide, SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and vaccine development based on human receptor ACE2 as the methods to combating against the outbreak were discussed. Accurate animal models are necessary for verifying the pathogenesis and immune mechanisms of the illness to accelerate research across vaccine development, new drug (antiviral) development, gene therapy, and more. Since the outbreak, the R&D team at Cyagen has made every effort to develop animal models tailored to the global SARS-CoV-2 research initiative. As our way of contributing to the international epidemic prevention effort, we are opening services on accurate models for coronavirus receptor targets, such as ACE2 and DPP4, effective immediately.

전문 무료로 보기