Newswise – Research from the University of Kent, Goethe University-in Frankfurt am Main, and Philipps University in Marburg have provided crucial insights into the biological condition of SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, reveals crucial clues for the detection of antiviral drugs.
Researchers compared SARS-CoV-2 with the closely related virus SARS-CoV, the cause of the 2002/03 SARS revolution. Despite being 80% biologically identical, the different viruses in buildings are essential. SARS-CoV-2 is more contagious and lethal, with a 2% mortality rate compared to 10% at SARS-CoV. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by asymptomatic people, but SARS-CoV was given only by those who were already ill.
Most functions in cells are performed by proteins; large molecules made up of amino acids. The amino acid sequence determines the action of a protein. Viruses encode proteins that reprogram infectious cells to produce more viruses. Despite the fact that SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV have essentially the same amino acid sequences, the study identifies a small subset of amino acid sequence functions that differ from each other and they are responsible for the observed changes in the behavior of both viruses.
Crucially, these inequalities between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV also lead to different drug sensitivity for COVID-19 treatment. This is particularly important, as many attempts to identify COVID-19 drugs are based on drug response data from other coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV. However, the findings of the study indicate that efficacy of drugs against SARS-CoV or other coronaviruses does not reflect the efficacy against SARS-CoV-2.
Martin Michaelis, Professor of Molecular Medicine at Kent School of Biology, said: ‘We now have a much better idea of how the small differences between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 will have such a big impact on the behavior of these viruses and the diseases that cause them. Our data also show that we need to be more careful with the experimental systems used to detect drugs for COVID-19. Only research using SARS-CoV-2 provides reliable results. ‘
Professor Jindrich Cinatl, Goethe University, said: ‘Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic disease, I have been amazed that two similar viruses can behave in such a different way. Now we begin to understand this. This also includes a better idea of what we need to do to better detect drugs for COVID-19. ‘
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