Coronavirus (CoV)

Coronaviruses are a diverse family of enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the family Coronaviridae (StatPearls, 2023). They are characterized by club-shaped spikes projecting from their surface, which facilitate entry into host cells by binding to specific receptors such as Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) (NIH, 2021). While many coronaviruses cause mild respiratory infections like the common cold, others such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 can lead to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (WHO, 2020). In the context of drug discovery, the term "Coronavirus" is often used loosely to refer to the pathogen, but the actual therapeutic targets are specific viral proteins including the Spike protein, Main protease (Mpro), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2020). Current therapeutic strategies involve small-molecule inhibitors of viral enzymes and monoclonal antibodies that neutralize the virus by preventing entry into host cells (NIH, 2023). The rapid evolution of these viruses, particularly through mutations in the Spike protein, poses a significant challenge to the long-term efficacy of certain treatments (CDC, 2023).

Other names

CoronaviridaeOrthocoronavirinaeCoV

Direct-acting antivirals target specific viral components: Remdesivir and Molnupiravir inhibit the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) to disrupt viral replication; Nirmatrelvir inhibits the main protease (Mpro/3CLpro) to prevent polyprotein processing; and monoclonal antibodies like Sotrovimab bind the Spike (S) protein to block host cell entry via the ACE2 receptor (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2020; NIH, 2023).