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Infection . COVID-19 outbreak: history, mechanism, transmission, structural studies and therapeutics

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  • Infection . COVID-19 outbreak: history, mechanism, transmission, structural studies and therapeutics


    Infection


    . 2020 Sep 4.
    doi: 10.1007/s15010-020-01516-2. Online ahead of print.
    COVID-19 outbreak: history, mechanism, transmission, structural studies and therapeutics


    Dhanusha Yesudhas 1 , Ambuj Srivastava 2 , M Michael Gromiha 3 4



    Affiliations

    Abstract

    Purpose: The coronavirus outbreak emerged as a severe pandemic, claiming more than 0.8 million lives across the world and raised a major global health concern. We survey the history and mechanism of coronaviruses, and the structural characteristics of the spike protein and its key residues responsible for human transmissions.
    Methods: We have carried out a systematic review to summarize the origin, transmission and etiology of COVID-19. The structural analysis of the spike protein and its disordered residues explains the mechanism of the viral transmission. A meta-data analysis of the therapeutic compounds targeting the SARS-CoV-2 is also included.
    Results: Coronaviruses can cross the species barrier and infect humans with unexpected consequences for public health. The transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection is higher compared to that of the closely related SARS-CoV infections. In SARS-CoV-2 infection, intrinsically disordered regions are observed at the interface of the spike protein and ACE2 receptor, providing a shape complementarity to the complex. The key residues of the spike protein have stronger binding affinity with ACE2. These can be probable reasons for the higher transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2. In addition, we have also discussed the therapeutic compounds and the vaccines to target SARS-CoV-2, which can help researchers to develop effective drugs/vaccines for COVID-19. The overall history and mechanism of entry of SARS-CoV-2 along with structural study of spike-ACE2 complex provide insights to understand disease pathogenesis and development of vaccines and drugs.

    Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Epidemiology; Intrinsic disorder region; SARS-CoV; SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics; Spike protein.

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