Abstract

Coronaviruses (CoVs), named after the crown-like spikes on their surfaces, belong to the RNA virus family Coronaviridae. Coronaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses with a linear positive-sense single–stranded genome consisting of the open reading frames (ORFs), the 5’- methylated cap, and the 3’- poly (A) tail. The open reading frames encode structural proteins and nonstructural proteins that may be drug-targetable. Antiviral medications seek to target these key proteins via different mechanisms. There have been seven coronaviruses discovered that are capable of infecting human beings, three of which including MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, originated in wild animals and evolved to develop rapid human-to-human transmission, resulting in severe respiratory diseases among other pathologies, even deaths. Particularly, the outbreak of the novel Wuhan coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has now rapidly spread across China and into many other countries. Sadly, there is no any effective vaccine or specific drug available. Many patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 have succumbed. Thus, there is a burning need for the anti-coronavirus drug development. The antiviral prodrug, Remdesivir, developed by the company Gilead, is currently under clinical investigation in China.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Structural proteins; Non-structural proteins; Infection; Drug; Vaccine