Description
The spike (S) glycoprotein of coronaviruses contains protrusions that will onlybind to certain receptors on the host cell. Known receptors bind S1 are ACE2, angiotensin-convertingenzyme 2; DPP4, dipeptidyl peptidase-4; APN, aminopeptidase N; CEACAM, carcinoembryonicantigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1; Sia, sialic acid; O-ac Sia, O-acetylated sialic acid. The spikeis essential for both host specificity and viral infectivity. The term 'peplomer' is typically used to refer toa grouping of heterologous proteins on the virus surface that function together. The spike (S)glycoprotein of coronaviruses is known to be essential in the binding of the virus to the host cell at theadvent of the infection process. It's been reported that 2019-nCoV can infect the human respiratoryepithelial cells through interaction with the human ACE2 receptor