Summary:
Scientists including Indian-origin Manjeet Kumar from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Germany analysed the chain of amino acid molecules that makes up the human proteins involved in the coronavirus infection such as a class of proteins called integrins. Earlier research had found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 enters cells through a process called endocytosis upon binding to the cell surface receptor ACE2 and potentially other proteins like integrins. They found that several integrins contain SLiMs that are likely involved in the cellular processes of uptake and disposal of substances called endocytosis and autophagy. This means that if we can find a way to reverse these switches using drugs this might stop coronavirus from entering cells” explained study senior author Lucia Chemes. Based on the results of the study the scientists gathered a list of existing drugs that interfere with endocytosis and autophagy..