Researchers unveil new SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor that targets viral immune evasion
In a recent quest for an effective antiviral compound, UK researchers have purified a specific enzyme of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) known as nsp15 and optimized fluorescent biochemical endoribonuclease assays to screen a custom chemical library with over 5,000 commercial compounds. The study is currently available on the
bioRxiv preprint server
.
SARS-CoV-2 is a causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a human disease that resulted in millions of deaths, burdened global health systems to near-breaking point, and imperiled economies of countries and families in an unprecedented fashion.
Although vaccination endeavors are well underway, not all countries can access them, and specific antiviral treatments to combat this disease are currently lacking. Remdesivir is the only antiviral drug approved for the treatment of COVID-19; however, its effectivene