Description
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increases the risk of developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), which is often fatal at the late stages of the infection when the SAR-CoV-2 virus causes significant damage to the lungs. As a first step of the viral replication strategy, the virus attaches to the host cell surface before entering the cell. The Spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) recognizes and attaches to the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor found on the surface of type I and II pneumocytes, endothelial cells, and ciliated bronchial epithelial cells. Drugs targeting the interaction between the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 may offer some protection against the viral infection