Developing lectins as inhibitors of SARS-CoV2

Abstract

The Spike protein of SARS-CoV2, is a highly glycosylated trimer that interacts with the ACE2 receptor on host cells via the receptor binding domain (RBD) to facilitate viral entry. As such, the Spike trimer has become the target for vaccines and therapeutics used to prevent or treat SARS-CoV2 infection. As variants of concern emerge and mutations associated with immune escape accumulate on the RBD the effectiveness of these antibodies decreases. Thus developing Spike inhibitors that target other features of Spike is highly attractive.