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SARS-CoV-2 Syncytium under the Radar: Molecular Insights of the Spike-Induced Syncytia and Potential Strategies to Limit SARS-CoV-2 Replication.

Published version

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Change log

Authors

Naseem, Asma 
Siddiqui, Zaheenul Islam  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7767-0158

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces non-physiological syncytia when its spike fusogenic protein on the surface of the host cells interacts with the ACE2 receptor on adjacent cells. Spike-induced syncytia are beneficial for virus replication, transmission, and immune evasion, and contribute to the progression of COVID-19. In this review, we highlight the properties of viral fusion proteins, mainly the SARS-CoV-2 spike, and the involvement of the host factors in the fusion process. We also highlight the possible use of anti-fusogenic factors as an antiviral for the development of therapeutics against newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and how the fusogenic property of the spike could be exploited for biomedical applications.

Description

Peer reviewed: True

Keywords

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, TMEM16F, niclosamide, spike, syncytia

Journal Title

J Clin Med

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2077-0383
2077-0383

Volume Title

12

Publisher

MDPI AG