COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, uses its spike protein to recognize the receptor ACE2 on human lung cells, attaching the virus to the cells.
Proteins of highly pathogenic viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 disease, play a critical role in the body’s immune response to infection, sometimes causing overt inflammation and tissue damage.
Social distancing can help deter some of COVID-19’s spread, but the development of a vaccine is the only surefire way to combat this devastating disease.
Montserrat Torremorell, DVM, PhD, is collaborating with researchers both within the CVM and at the College of Science and Engineering to test whether air purifying systems can inactivate airborne coronaviruses.
Human pulmonary epithelial cells, which serve many important functions in human lungs, express two key enzymes, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, that help SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, enter human pulmonary epithelial cells. These enzymes facilitate viral entry specifically through their interaction with spike proteins.