From pathogenesis to therapy of COVID-19

Abstract

The world is facing the pandemic of a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) leading to the development of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In effect, the scientific potential in the field becoming the cutting-edge of biomedical research. It is in a big race to test the available pharmacologic resource of registered antiviral drugs and to discover of novel pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and biologicals (such as vaccines, gene and stem cell therapy, and recombinant proteins produced biotechnologically). We argue that the knowledge of (i) angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, (ii) viral S-glycoprotein ligand, and (iii) cellular proteases, required for the entry of Cov-2 into the target cell, may provide novel therapeutic approaches for COVID-19. Finally, we reason the described approaches could lead to the identification of better drugs for COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome.